Quakers in Africa
Kenya contains the largest body of Quakers in a single nation. There were about 133,000 members of the Religious Society of Friends there, in the year 2008 (according to the Friends World Committee for Consultation). The Quaker faith has been thriving and growing in Kenya for over 100 years.
History
The Society of Friends were the first Christian group to minister to the Luhya people in western Kenya.
On April 23, 1902 three Friends — Arthur Chilson, Edgar Hole, and Willis Hotchkiss — set sail from New York to Mombasa, Kenya. They went on behalf of the Cleveland Friends Meeting. From there they made their way across by rail to Kisumu and then by foot to Kaimosi and set up a mission there on August 17.
From that small beginning, Quakerism grew and spread throughout Kenya, although it is still concentrated in the western area. It also spread to the neighboring countries of Uganda and Tanzania.
Separate missionary movements of Quakers have resulted in Friends groups of various sizes in Rwanda, Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Pemba Island, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Botswana, and other southern and western African countries.
Yearly Meetings
Yearly meetings in Kenya are part of the Friends United Meeting. They include:
- Bware Yearly Meeting, based in Suna in southern Nyanza Province
- Central Yearly Meeting, based in Lirhanda, just east of Kakamega
- Chavakali Yearly Meeting, based in Chavakali, just behind the Boys Secondary School
- Chwele Yearly Meeting, based in Chwele, on the southern slopes of Mt Elgon
- East Africa Yearly Meeting (Kaimosi), based in Tiriki on the Kaimosi mission compound
- East Africa Yearly Meeting (North), based in Kitale town
- Elgon East Yearly Meeting, based in Kitale town
- Elgon Religious Society of Friends, based in Lugulu, just north of Webuye on the Kitale road
- Kakamega Yearly Meeting, based in Kakamega at the Amalemba Friends Center
- Lugari Yearly Meeting, based in Turbo
- Malava Yearly Meeting, based in Malava, just west of the market center
- Nairobi Yearly Meeting, based at the Friends International Center, Ngong Rd, Nairobi
- Tuloi Yearly Meeting, based in Kapsabet
- Vihiga Yearly Meeting, based in Vihiga, just west of Majengo
- Vokoli Yearly Meeting, based in Wodanga, behind the Moi Girls High School