The Establishment and Impact of Friends Church Among the Tiriki of Western Kenya

Abstract

The study assesses the establishment and the impact of Friends Church among the Tiriki of Western Kenya. The roles played by the Friends Church in development the Tiriki people’s economic condition, standard of living, modernizing them and the local people uptake of Christian teachings were key objectives of the research. Using a combination of interview, focus group discussion and questionnaire technique, the study covered the activities of the Friends church among the Tiriki by investigating the experiences of missionaries in Tiriki and what informed the reaction of the Tiriki towards the Christian missionaries. The study also sought to detail the impact of Christianity on the Tiriki. From its findings, this study achieved its objective by identifying and discussing the factors that led to the establishment of Friends church among the Tiriki, it assessed the impact of Christian Missionaries on the Tiriki and discussed the Tiriki socio-religious cultural aspect in view of inculturation of the Christian message. To achieve the above stated objectives the study utilized the modernization theory. It answered the questions such as was Christianity an agent of modernization? Were the Tiriki people ready to be modernized? The study is the first empirical investigation in Tiriki that focuses on the relevance of Christian missions on members’ standard of living in rural communities and villages in remote Africa. The study shed light on how rural communities function, how their relationships with Christian missionaries developed, how the missionaries promoted modernity. It has also provided more evidence on the importance of land ownership, and how this is affected when land is alienated. It has also provided insights into the development of rural businesses, how Christianity became an agent of change in many rural areas. The study breaks new ground in analyzing Tiriki relationship with the Friends Missionaries at Kaimosi. This helps to appropriately identify the roles of Africans in rural evangelism. However, participation in Christianity does not lead to African wholesome profitability. It has also provided more evidence on the importance of modernity, land ownership, and how this is enhanced when rural communities have access to education. It has also provided insights into the development of rural areas. In this way, the study makes a significant contribution to our understanding of rural communities in developing Christianity. The study contributes to knowledge in specific areas as discussed above.