Kivoi Mwendwa, popularly known as ‘Chief Kivoi’, was a prominent Kamba long-distance trader who lived in present-day Kitui in the 18th century.
He is renowned for his role in guiding the first missionaries into the interior of Kenya. While the actual date of his birth is unknown and not recorded, locals in Voi Town believe he settled along the Voi River in the mid-1800s and lived between the 1780s and 19th August 1852.
Although there is little information about his descendants, Dr. Ludwig Krapf mentioned him in his Mission to Africa.
Chief Kivoi’s rise to power and wealth can be attributed to his trade in elephant tusks, minerals, and slaves with Arab, Indian, and Chinese colonizers on the African coastline.
As a result, contemporary Kamba language and culture bear significant influence from these interactions, which occurred almost a millennium ago.
In addition to trading with Arab merchants along the coast, Chief Kivoi also interacted with them in Voi town. The town was named after him because it was one of the caravan stopovers before reaching the coastal town of Mombasa.
In this article, we will take a closer look at the life of Chief Kivoi and explore the impact he had on the history and culture of Kenya.
Early Life of Chief Kivoi
Chief Kivoi was born in the late 18th century, in the area now known as Machakos County in Kenya. He was a member of the Akamba tribe, which is one of the largest ethnic groups in Kenya. The Akamba people are known for their rich culture and history, and they have been instrumental in shaping the development of the country.
As a young man, Kivoi was known for his intelligence and leadership qualities. He was chosen to be a leader of his community, and he quickly gained a reputation as a fair and just leader who was dedicated to the well-being of his people.
Kivoi’s Encounter with the Missionaries
In 1844, Johann Ludwig Krapf and Johann Rebmann, two German missionaries, arrived on the Kenyan coast with the intention of spreading Christianity inland.
However, they were met with resistance and hostility from local tribes who were wary of their intentions.
Chief Kivoi played a pivotal role in helping the missionaries navigate the local terrain and gain the trust of the local tribes.
Krapf and his team were determined to spread Christianity in Kenya, but they faced many challenges, including language barriers and cultural differences.
When Kivoi heard about the missionaries, he was intrigued. He was interested in learning more about their religion and their way of life, and he saw an opportunity to improve the lives of his people by working with the missionaries.
Kivoi invited the missionaries to his village and welcomed them with open arms. He provided them with food, shelter, and protection, and he became their guide and interpreter as they traveled across the region.
He served as their guide and protector and helped them establish a mission station in Rabai, near Mombasa. This mission station became the starting point for Christian missions in East Africa and laid the foundation for modern-day Christianity in the region.
Krapf mentioned Chief Kivoi in his accounts of his Mission to Africa, noting his significant contribution to the success of the mission.
Krapf praised Chief Kivoi’s intelligence, shrewdness, and bravery, and acknowledged that without his help, the mission would have been impossible.
Kivoi’s Role in the Spread of Christianity in Kenya
Thanks to Kivoi’s guidance, the missionaries were able to establish a foothold in Kenya. They set up schools and churches, and they began to convert many Kenyans to Christianity.
Kivoi played a key role in this process. He helped the missionaries to understand the local culture and customs, and he translated the Bible into the Akamba language, making it accessible to many people who had previously been unable to read it.
Kivoi’s collaboration with the missionaries was not without its challenges, however. Many Kenyans were skeptical of the new religion, and some saw it as a threat to their traditional way of life. Kivoi had to work hard to convince his fellow Akamba people that Christianity was not a threat, but rather an opportunity to improve their lives.
Setbacks experienced by the missionaries
Despite the efforts of the missionaries, the traditional religion of the Kamba people remained centered on an invisible, all-powerful sky-god known as Ngai or Mulungu.
The concept of a visible God who lived among his people and sacrificed his life for them was new and unfamiliar to the Kamba people.
As a result, the evangelistic efforts of the two missionaries were considered unsuccessful, and they were met with resistance from the locals.
Unfortunately, Krapf’s mission to Africa was also marred by tragedy. After the death of Chief Kivoi, Krapf was wrongly accused by the locals, leaving him feeling defeated and isolated. He left Kenya in 1853, having only managed to convert a dying cripple and a social outcast to Christianity.
Despite these setbacks, the Christian faith would eventually take root in the Kamba community. Within 35 years of Krapf’s departure, the Kamba people had embraced the gospel of Jesus Christ and were sending out their own evangelists to spread the message of Christianity throughout Africa.
The seeds planted by Krapf and Rebmann had taken root and were bearing fruit, a testament to the tenacity and determination of the Kamba people.
Today, the legacy of Chief Kivoi and the first Christian missionaries in Kenya lives on. The Kamba people continue to be a vital part of the country’s cultural and religious landscape, and their contributions to Kenyan society are widely recognized and celebrated.
The story of Chief Kivoi and the first Christian missionaries in Kenya serves as a reminder of the enduring power of faith and the profound impact that individuals can have on the world around them.
Legacy of Chief Kivoi
Despite the challenges he faced, Kivoi remained committed to his mission. He continued to work with the missionaries, and he helped to spread Christianity across Kenya.
Today, he is remembered as a hero and a trailblazer, and his legacy lives on in the many churches and schools that he helped to establish.
In addition to his work with the missionaries, Kivoi was also a respected leader in his own right. He was known for his wisdom, his compassion, and his dedication to the well-being of his people. He fought against slavery and worked to promote peace and stability in his community.
As per the records of Dr. Ludwig Krapf, Chief Kivoi met his untimely death along with his followers during a robbery attack on his caravan in Tana River, which was located merely 2 miles from the present-day Yatta.
Krapf’s diary entry recounts the unfortunate incident that led to the demise of Chief Kivoi and his followers. Krapf himself miraculously survived the attack.
During the expedition, while approaching the Tana River, the caravan was ambushed by robbers, and chaos ensued. The majority of the caravan scattered in all directions, and Chief Kivoi’s followers were killed along with him.
Krapf, on the other hand, fired his gun twice, but not at the attackers, as he could not bring himself to take another life. He found himself alone, separated from both friend and foe, and fled in what he believed to be the safest direction.
After the demise of Chief Kivoi, Krapf was accused of being the cause of his death, and the Akamba people, who held Chief Kivoi in high regard, condemned Krapf to death. Krapf, fearing for his life, managed to escape at midnight and fled the area.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Chief Kivoi was a pivotal figure in the history of Christianity in Kenya. His role in guiding the first missionaries and helping to establish the church in the region cannot be overstated.
Despite facing criticism from some of his own people for his actions, he remained steadfast in his commitment to his newfound faith and to building a better future for his community.
Today, his legacy lives on through the many churches and Christian communities that continue to thrive in Kenya and the wider East African region.
Chief Kivoi’s legacy lives on in the Christian communities he helped establish, the Kamba culture, and the towns and regions that bear his name.
The town of Kivaa in Machakos County, for instance, is named after him, and the Kivaa Market is a bustling hub of economic activity in the region.
Reference
https://talkafricana.com/chief-kivoi-meet-the-chief-who-guided-the-first-missionaries-into-kenya/
