National Council of Churches of Kenya
Encyclopedia
The National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK) http://www.ncck.org, (in Swahili
, Jumuia Ya Makanisa Ya Kenya) is a fellowship of Protestant churches and Christian
organisations registered in Kenya
. Its motto is 'For Wananchi' which means for citizens (Wananchi is translated citizens in Swahili
), and this motto has been exemplified in NCCK's long involvement in social responsibility, public service and advocacy in Kenya.
It was established in 1913 to provide a forum for addressing issues facing the people of Kenya
(then British East Africa). In its almost 100 years of existence, it has been a key player in mobilizing Kenyans in various political, economic, and social issues.
As such, NCCK's story is intricately intertwined with Kenya's national historical narrative.
African Christian Churches and Schools
African Church of the Holy Spirit
African Interior Church
African Nineveh Church
Anglican Church of Kenya
Church of Africa Sinai Mission
Coptic Orthodox Church
Episcopal Church of Africa
Evangelical Lutheran Church of Kenya
Friends Church in Kenya
Kenya Assemblies of God
Kenya Evangelical Lutheran Church
Kenya Mennonite Church
Lyahuka Church of East Africa
Maranatha Faith Assemblies
Methodist Church in Kenya
National Independent Church of Africa
Overcoming Faith Centre Church of Kenya
Pentecostal Evangelistic Fellowship of Africa
Presbyterian Church of East Africa
Reformed Church of East Africa
Salvation Army
Scriptural Holiness Mission
Zion Harvest Mission
Christian Churches Education Association
Christian Health Association of Kenya
Kenya United Independent Churches
Kenya Ecumenical Church Loan Fund
Kenya Students Christian Fellowship http://www.kscf.org/
St Paul's University http://www.stpaulslimuru.ac.ke/
Young Women's Christian Association (World YWCA
)
Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA
)
Daystar University
Fellowship of Christian Unions (FOCUS)
Trans World Radio
Trinity Fellowship
World Vision International
Management Team
. This facility also serves as the Nairobi Region offices. NCCK maintains nine regional offices throughout Kenya as well as five conference or retreat centers namely:
Swahili language
Swahili or Kiswahili is a Bantu language spoken by various ethnic groups that inhabit several large stretches of the Mozambique Channel coastline from northern Kenya to northern Mozambique, including the Comoro Islands. It is also spoken by ethnic minority groups in Somalia...
, Jumuia Ya Makanisa Ya Kenya) is a fellowship of Protestant churches and Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
organisations registered in Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
. Its motto is 'For Wananchi' which means for citizens (Wananchi is translated citizens in Swahili
Swahili language
Swahili or Kiswahili is a Bantu language spoken by various ethnic groups that inhabit several large stretches of the Mozambique Channel coastline from northern Kenya to northern Mozambique, including the Comoro Islands. It is also spoken by ethnic minority groups in Somalia...
), and this motto has been exemplified in NCCK's long involvement in social responsibility, public service and advocacy in Kenya.
History
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
(then British East Africa). In its almost 100 years of existence, it has been a key player in mobilizing Kenyans in various political, economic, and social issues.
As such, NCCK's story is intricately intertwined with Kenya's national historical narrative.
- 1844- Dr Johann Ludwig KrapfJohann Ludwig KrapfJohann Ludwig Krapf was a German missionary in East Africa, as well as an explorer, linguist, and traveler. Krapf played an important role in exploring East Africa with Johannes Rebmann. They were the first Europeans to see Mount Kenya and Kilimanjaro...
, a GermanGermansThe Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
and the first missionary arrives in Kenya (British East Africa) and starts work at the Coast. He is soon followed by other missionaries including Johannes RebmannJohannes RebmannJohannes Rebmann was a German missionary and explorer credited with feats including being the first European, along with his colleague Johann Ludwig Krapf, to enter Africa from the Indian Ocean coast. In addition, he was the first European to find Kilimanjaro...
who establish several mission stations around the country. - 1908- By now several issues face the missionaries who have greatly increased in number, including the need for commonality in the names referencing GodGodGod is the English name given to a singular being in theistic and deistic religions who is either the sole deity in monotheism, or a single deity in polytheism....
in the different local languages and dialects. Two mission conferences are held that year in Kijabe and Maseno. - 1909- Another conference is held in KijabeKijabeKijabe is a town in Kenya. Its name is Maasai for "Place of the Wind". It stands on the edge of the Great Rift Valley at an altitude of 2200m, some 50 kilometres north-west of Nairobi. Kijabe is located in the Lari division of Kiambu District. Kijabe has a population 17,334 . Kijabe has a railway...
, which paves the way for the formation of NCCK. A key resolution is made: "This Conference regards the development, organisation and establishment of a united self-governing, self-supporting and self-extending Native Church as the ideal in our Missionary Work." http://www.ncck.org/index.php/about-ncck/our-journey.html - 1913- The first United Missionary Conference is held in June 1913, in Thogoto, Kikuyu, Kenya, where nine missionary groups attend. A constitutionConstitutionA constitution is a set of fundamental principles or established precedents according to which a state or other organization is governed. These rules together make up, i.e. constitute, what the entity is...
proposing the formation of the Federation of Missions is discussed, and four missionary groups sign it. NCCK is born. - 1918- At the second United Missionary Conference, the name of the organization is changed to Alliance of Protestant Missions.
- 1924- The goals of the organization change, and the membership is expanded beyond the original four members. A new body called the Kenya Missionary Council is formed.
- 1943- As the country inches towards independence, there is need to broaden the membership to accommodate non-missionary Christian bodies. The objectives change once again, and the organization is then called Christian Council of Kenya (CCK).
- 1966- Kenyans have gotten independence. To reflect the new state of affairs, the organization re-brands into National Christian Council of Kenya.
- 1984- The name of the organisation was changed to National Council of Churches of Kenya to reflect the fact that membership to the organisation is by churches and not individual Christians.
Membership
NCCK has 42 member churches and organizations, who seek to facilitate the attainment of a united, just, peaceful and sustainable societyhttp://www.ncck.org/index.php/about-ncck/history-of-ncck.html. That is; 25 member churches, 11 Associate Members and 6 Fraternal Associate Members. These are:Full Members
Africa Brotherhood ChurchAfrican Christian Churches and Schools
African Church of the Holy Spirit
African Interior Church
African Nineveh Church
Anglican Church of Kenya
Church of Africa Sinai Mission
Coptic Orthodox Church
Episcopal Church of Africa
Evangelical Lutheran Church of Kenya
Friends Church in Kenya
Kenya Assemblies of God
Kenya Evangelical Lutheran Church
Kenya Mennonite Church
Lyahuka Church of East Africa
Maranatha Faith Assemblies
Methodist Church in Kenya
National Independent Church of Africa
Overcoming Faith Centre Church of Kenya
Pentecostal Evangelistic Fellowship of Africa
Presbyterian Church of East Africa
Reformed Church of East Africa
Salvation Army
Scriptural Holiness Mission
Zion Harvest Mission
Associate Members
Bible Society of Kenya http://www.biblesociety-kenya.org/Christian Churches Education Association
Christian Health Association of Kenya
Kenya United Independent Churches
Kenya Ecumenical Church Loan Fund
Kenya Students Christian Fellowship http://www.kscf.org/
St Paul's University http://www.stpaulslimuru.ac.ke/
Young Women's Christian Association (World YWCA
World YWCA
The World YWCA is the umbrella organization of the global network of the YWCA, a movement of women working for social and economic change around the world. It advocates for young women’s leadership, peace, justice, human rights and sustainable development, both on a grassroots and global scale...
)
Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA
YMCA
The Young Men's Christian Association is a worldwide organization of more than 45 million members from 125 national federations affiliated through the World Alliance of YMCAs...
)
Fraternal Members
African Evangelistic Enterprise http://www.aeekenya.org/Daystar University
Daystar University
Daystar is a Christian liberal arts university in Nairobi, Kenya.Daystar's original campus is close to Nairobi city centre, but here is no room to expand at that location. Therefore, in the last decade a new campus has been built at Athi River, some 40 km to the south-east of the city, on the...
Fellowship of Christian Unions (FOCUS)
Trans World Radio
Trans World Radio
Trans World Radio is a multinational Christian evangelistic broadcaster. TWR broadcasts from 14 countries using mediumwave or high-powered AM transmitters, shortwave as well as through local radio stations, cable, satellite, and the Internet to reach millions of people in 160 nations in their own...
Trinity Fellowship
World Vision International
World Vision International
World Vision International, founded in the USA in 1977, is an evangelical relief and development umbrella organization whose stated goal is "to follow our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ in working with the poor and oppressed to promote human transformation, seek justice and bear witness to the good...
Governance of the Council
The supreme body of NCCK is the General Assembly (GA), which meets once every two years. The GA has an Executive Committee which meets biannually. This Committee has two sub-committees, namely, the Programme Committee, and the Finance and Administration Committee. These committees meet regularly throughout the year, and work closely with the management team. The day to day management of the Council is the responsibility of management team under the leadership of the General Secretary who is also the Chief Executive Officer of the Council.| Officer of the Council | Name |
|---|---|
| Chairman | Rev. Dr Charles Kibicho |
| Vice Chairman | Rt. Rev. Josiah Were |
| Honorary Treasurer | Mr Joseph Muriu |
| General Secretary | Rev. Canon Peter Karanja |
| Chairman, Finance & Administration Committee | Ms. Emmy Migaliza |
| Chairman, Program Committee | Rev. Geoffrey Songok |
| Deputy General Secretary | Mr Oliver Kisaka |
Management Team
| Position | Name |
|---|---|
| General Secretary | Rev. Canon Peter Karanja |
| Deputy General Secretary | Mr Oliver Kisaka |
| Director, Programs | Ms Suzie Ibutu |
| Director, Human Resource & Administration | Ms Linet Ndolo |
| Director, Commercial | Ms Dora Waruiru |
| Manager, Finance | Ms Mary Wanjiku |
Facilities
The Council's headquarters are located at the Jumuia Place, Lenana Road, NairobiNairobi
Nairobi is the capital and largest city of Kenya. The city and its surrounding area also forms the Nairobi County. The name "Nairobi" comes from the Maasai phrase Enkare Nyirobi, which translates to "the place of cool waters". However, it is popularly known as the "Green City in the Sun" and is...
. This facility also serves as the Nairobi Region offices. NCCK maintains nine regional offices throughout Kenya as well as five conference or retreat centers namely:
- Ol-Lerai - The Meeting Boma
- Jumuia Guest House, Kisumu
- Jumuia Guest House, Nakuru
- Jumuia Conference and Country Home, Limuru
- Jumuia Conference and Beach Resort, Kanamai