Question

Explain five challenges faced by the early Christian missionaries in their work in Kenya.

Answer 1

• Tropical diseases such as Malaria claimed the lives of many missionaries/ slowed down their work
• Islam posed stiff competition to Christianity at the Coast since Islam was already established in the region
• Missionaries faced resistance/ hostility from Africans because Christian teaching condemned some African traditions/ practices like polygamy / female circumcision
• Poor transport and communication network/ lack of roads hindered movement into the interior
• Missionaries lacked a common language of communication with Africans making it difficult to share the gospel
• Rivalry among different missionary groups hindered cooperation among them
• Christian Missionaries faced hostility from slave traders since they condemned it and wanted it abolished
• Inadequate funds made it difficult for the missionaries to finance all their operations
• They lacked enough personnel to spread Christianity over the vast/ expansive region
• Hostile African communities such as the Nandi/ Oromo vandalized mission stations/ installations/ facilities
• Inadequate supplies of food/ medicines undermined their ability to carry out their work effectively.
• Threat/ menance of wild animals such as lions, snakes which could attack/ harm them
• Sometimes, their guides/ porters deserted them robbing them thereby slowing their mission