Mutira Mission: An African Church Comes of Age in Kirinyaga, Kenya (1912-2012)

Contents

i x Contents Acknowledgements vii Introduction: Centenary Theme: “Your Word is a Lamp to My Feet” 1 No fixed lamps then! 4 The biblical David 5 Chapter One: Kirinyaga County 7 Introduction 7 Climate andAgriculture 8 Corruption as a Challenge 9 The Ndia People 11 The Human Nature of Ndia People 16 Is There Hope? 17 Chapter Two: MutiraAnglican Mission (1912-2012) 19 Introduction 19 Rev McGregor: St Paul of Central Kenya? 20 Brandon Laight Becomes the First Clergy at Mutira22 Bishop Alfred R. Tucker Makes the First Step 24 Mutira Centre Before 1911 27 Mutira: The London of Kirinyaga? 27 Rev Herbert Butcher Arrives (1919) as the Second Priest 29 Butcher Becomes a ‘Rainmaker’ 29 x Butcher Becomes the First Clergy to Baptise 30 Baptism: Memorizing, Questions and Answer Format 32 Baptism as ‘Second Birth’ 32 The Final list of Baptismal Candidates 32 First Confirmations at Mutira Mission Centre 34 Rev Hillard (Gikubia) Arrives (1927) as the Third Clergy 34 Mutira Without Resident European Missionaries (1929- ) 35 Consecration of Emmanuel Church Mutira 37 Mutira Out-Centres (1930 - 1970) 41 Some Setbacks: The Case of Kiburu Church 44 Mutira Mission During the Mau Mau War 50 Mutira: 1981-2010 53 Chapter Three: The Pioneer African Clergy 57 Introduction 57 The Pioneer Clergy 57 Rev. Canon Johana Njumbi (1886-1991) 58 Rev. Paul Kibuti (1918 – 1996) 71 Rev Canon Jason Minja Mwai (1928-2008) 74 Ven Canon Joseph Mwangi Ngooro (1926 - ) 77 Rev Canon Emeritus Joseph Kangangi Mwanake (1930-2010) 86 Rev Amos Karani (1941- ) 88 Chapter Four: Most Rev Dr David Mukuba Gitari 91 Introduction 91 Birth and Naming 91 Gitari’s Early Life 92 Gitari’s Ancestry 93 Gitari’s Marriage, Ordination, and Schooling 95 Gitari and Ecumenical Bodies 96 Some Achievements as a Bishop 97 Some Achievements as an Archbishop 98 Gitari after Retirement 98 Gitari’s Working Methodologies 99 Relevance and Critique of Gitari-ism 103 Conclusion 107 Chapter Five: Some Post Independence Clergy With Mutira Roots 109 Introduction 109 Bishop Daniel Munene Ngoru (1947 - ) 109 Rev Japhet Miano Mutugi (1920 - ) 113 Rev. Jephthah Kiara Gathaka (1948 - ) 116 Dr. Moses M. Njoroge (1951 - ) 120 Hon Rev. Mutava Musyimi (1952 - ) 124 Chapter Six: Some Outstanding Women Clergy 131 Introduction 131 Ven. Canon Mary W. Koigu 132 Ven. Winfred Munene 136 Ven. Jane Nyaguthii Mwangangi 137 Chapter Seven: Some Outstanding Lay Leaders 141 Introduction 141 Thomas M. Meero (1874 - 1964) 141 Problem with Meero’s Marriage 143 Meero’s Death 149 Elijah Kimani Kiongo (1875 – 1985) 150 Lay Canon James Stanley Mathenge (1935 - ) 152 Early Graduates in Kirinyaga 155 Early Professionals with Mutira Roots 156 Conclusion 173 x i Appendix One: Church Growth 1884-2012 175 Appendix Two:Anglican Primates, 1862-2012 176 Appendix Three: Establishment of Churches in Mutira Pastorate 177 Appendix Four:African Clergy in Mutira Mission 178 Appendix Five: Outstanding Lay Leaders 179 Appendix Six: KikuyuAnglican Clergy From 1920 to 1945 180 Index of Personal Names 181 xii ...