The Contribution of the Church Missionary Society (Cms) to Education and Christianity in Kaloleni District, Kilifi County (1900-1963)

Abstract

This study examined the contribution of the Church Missionary Society (CMS) to Western Education and Christianity in Kaloleni District, Kilifi County. The objectives of this study were to examine the rise and development of western education and Christianity among the Giriama, the contribution African teachers and evangelists towards the same and the challenges the Church Missionary Society faced in Kaloleni District. This study was guided by Modernization theory and Cultural Lag theory. Modernization theory assisted in explaining how the introduction of Western Education in Kaloleni District by the CMS brought social advancement among the Giriama. The Cultural Lag theory assisted in explaining how the introduction of Western Education in Kaloleni by the CMS brought social conflict between modernity and the traditional Giriama education system. This project paper was written using both primary and secondary sources. Semi-structured oral interviews were used to gather more information on CMS activities in Kaloleni District. The oral interviews were recorded, transcribed and qualitatively analyzed. As demonstrated in chapter two, the CMS missionaries slowly began their work at the Kenyan Coast and gradually extended their presence to the interior where they tried to convert the Giriama to Christianity. The Bombay Africans solved some of the challenges such as language barrier that had initially hindered missionary activities at the coast. Despite various challenges, the CMS missionaries remained committed in evangelism and towards the close of the ts" century, they moved into the interior where they preached to the Giriama. In 1904, the CMS missionaries began evangelism work in Kaloleni. At Kaloleni, they faced challenges such as competition from Islam and African traditional practices, shortage of teachers and medical doctors. Nonetheless, they worked very hard to improve the social and economic status of the Giriama. This study found out that by building schools in Kaloleni, the missionaries exposed the Giriama to Western Education, which enabled them to get employment in the colonial administration. Besides education, the CMS missionaries provided medical services in Kaloleni. The missionaries therefore improved the social and economic conditions of the Giriama.