An Assessment of the Socio - political and Economic impact of the Presbyterian Church of East Africa in the Eastern Region from 1915 to 2022

Abstract

The Presbyterian Church of East Africa (PCEA) was brought to Kenya by the Church of Scotland Mission (CSM). The idea of the mission was initiated by the company directors of the Imperial British East African Company. The CSM had already settled in Central Kenya and established mission stations in Kikuyu and Tumutumu in 1901 and 1908 respectively. PCEA was established in the Eastern Region in 1915 by the Church of Scotland Mission (CSM). The Eastern Region was the third mission area to be established by the CSM. Their mission strategy was holistic in nature where they combined evangelism, education, medical and industrial work. Although the PCEA has been in Eastern region for more than a century, its impact has not been given much scholarly attention. This study was undertaken to in investigate the impact socio-political and economic of PCEA in the Eastern region since its inception in 1915. The study employed Descriptive survey research design. Questionnaires, oral interviews and document review were used to collect the data. The sample size for this study was 438 which included 9 presbytery moderators, 53 church ministers and 376 church members. From the 376 church members a category of 20 respondents who were identified through snow balling were engaged in oral interviews. The study established that PCEA has greatly impacted in the social, economic and political transformation in the Eastern Region over the last one century.