SALOME NOLEGA DAVID: PROGRESSIVE AND TRANSFORMATIVE FEMINIST LEADER OF WESTERN PROVINCE; 1932-1985

Abstract

The focus of this article is to reconstruct the history of a Luhya Woman –Salome Nolega David as a progressive and transformative leader of western Kenya. With the advent of the first Friends African Mission (hereafter FAM) station at Kaimosi, in 1902, Education was handy in winning more converts to this new religion. The women traditions and culture had first to be transformed, through acceptance of western cultural attributes. Consequently, FAM missionaries offered education opportunities of the sons and daughters of the first generation believers to enable them be employed in secular sectors such as medical services, education service, industrial and agricultural sector, as an approach for reinforcing evangelization and expanding their area of influence. It is due to this; the Friends Church’s secular policy, its formulation, implementation and impact on the education in the Luhya that is the subject of this study. Anecdotal evidence indicate members of the Friends Church are to found all over the country today. Unfortunately, the contributions of the daughters of the first and second generation adherents of F.A.M to the growth and transformation in education among the Luhya of old Vihiga district has not been realized. In recognition of this fact, the article addresses the pertinent issues Salome Nolega David found herself agitating for among the Luhya of western Kenya. Indeed, much of the material for the article was derived from unpublished theses, oral interviews and secondary sources which addressed the role of Nolega David among the Friends Church affiliates. Other sources included, written source of information on the Friends Church is the East African Yearly Meeting (hereafter EAYM) records preserved at Kaimosi and those from The Kenya National Archives (hereafter KNA).