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Conclusion I n conclusion, it is worthwhile to consider that by 2010, Kirinyaga Diocese, which covers Kirinyaga West, North, East, South and Central Districts, was just a Deanery within the larger Mount Kenya Diocese – Kirinyaga Rural Deanery, in 1970.As noted above, Mount Kenya East Diocese was curved, from Mount Kenya, in 1975, under the stewardship of Bishop Gitari. In turn, Kirinyaga Deanery came into existence in 1964 when the former Embu Deanery was divided into the Deaneries of Embu and Kirinyaga. Parishes that made up the Kirinyaga Deanery in 1970 were those of Mutira, Kabare, Kerugoya, Kiandangae, Ngiriambu and Mwea. The Deanery was under the Rural Dean, the Rev Canon Ezbon Ngaruiya.1 By 2010, the former Kirinyaga Rural Deanery had developed into a Diocese, the Anglican Diocese of Kirinyaga, which had 7 Archdeaconries (Mutira, Cathedral, Kiandangae, Kabare, Ngiriambu, Thiba, and Wang’uru), 102 Parishes, 221 congregations, 213 Priests and Church workers and 70,000 Anglicans.2 It had well developed departments such as: Communication, Development, Theological Education by Extension, Sunday School, Girls’ and Boys’ Brigade, Kenya Anglican Men Association, Mothers Union, Young Mothers Association, By-Faith bookshops, Christian Community Services, Hospital Chaplaincy, Stewardship,Accounts ________________________________ 1 Keith Cole, The Cross Over Mount Kenya: A Short History of the Anglican Church in the Diocese of Mount Kenya (1900-1970), (Melbourne: Ridley College, 1970), 60. 2 http://www.ackenya.org/dioceses/kirinyaga.html (accessed October 2, 2010). Mutira Mission Office, Maranatha SACCO andYouth Department. Similarly, parish which had only one parish in the first half of the twentieth century had a total of 6Archdeaconries (Karaba in Mbeere Diocese, Mutira, Kiandangae, Kerugoya Cathedral, Thiba and parts of Wang’uru Archdeaconry), about 20 deaneries, about 80 parishes and about 200 congregations. To paraphrase former Archbishop Gitari description, Mutira Mission Centre grew like a Mustard seed, where it began in a very small way.3 No African clergy; no women ordination, no church buildings; and no solid membership then. One hundred years later (1911-2012), one can have the audacity to look behind and see the far God has taken the locality. From a land that would have gone unnoticed in the annals of history, to a very historical site. From a world that was plagued by ignorance, superstitions, uncertainties, poverty, and disease to one of the places in the world which has highly educated people. Offspring from faithful of the old Mutira Mission has provided Kenya, Africa, and the rest of the world with professors, doctors, lawyers, judges,Administrators, senior political and Ecclesiastical leaders, engineers, historians, and scholars of all shades. Certainly, the once scorned and ‘desolate’valleys have finally earned a place in the annals of history! Isn’t it the Mustard seed that has grown into a huge tree despite the pains thereof? Surely, “If you have faith as a grain of Mustard seed… nothing will be impossible to you” (Matthew 17:20). As the Psalmist 119:105 thus says, “Your word is a lamp to my feet, and a light for my path.” Clearly, God’s Word illuminates the path of our lives. If we keep God’s Word shining along the way, then we will be far less likely to trip. It is only when we turn the light off (before we have actually arrived at our respective destination) that something could spring up in the dark and trips us. May God help us. ___________________________________ 3 David Gitari, “Bishop’s Charge” The Diocese of Mt. Kenya East, Sixth Ordinary Session of Synod, Kabare, 7-11April 1986. 174 ...

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