By Sylvia Kitonga
On 6th March 2000 I was baptized during a crusade by Pastor Muhando from Tanzania, at Uhuru Park. I became a member of Nairobi South Church.
Sis. Mary Gachoka, also a member of Nairobi South Church, took me under her wings, to nurture me as a new member. She was a very good friend of Sis. Mary Metobo, and by extension, I became very close to her as well.
Sometime in August 2002, Mary Metobo who was working near Nation Printing Press along Mombasa Road, and had been allocated a house by her employer just behind Nation at Kwa Mbemba, floated an idea of starting a Sabbath School at the place. The idea sounded good to me and Mary Gachoka. We agreed to:
1.) Seek clearance from the Pastor of Nairobi South Church, Pr Christopher Muturi, which we did. He had no objection and wished us well, but indicated that the church would not take any financial responsibility.
2.) Look for someone to help us hold a crusade at Mlolongo and Kwa Bemba, and to conduct a door-to-door evangelism at Kwa Mbemba. There was a sizeable community living in makeshift houses at Kwa Bemba. Unknown to us then, they were occupying a road reserve which meant that they could be evicted from there anytime. Mary Gachoka and I travelled to Karatina to look for an evangelist by the name Njaga whom Mary Gachoka had recommended. He accepted our request and we promised to contact him as soon as the plans were firmed up.
3.) Evangelist Njaga would be housed at Mary Metobo’s house at Kwa Bemba and the three of us – two Marys and I were to be responsible for his upkeep. We also sponsored the crusades and contributions were made by some of the people who assisted in organizing the crusades.
The two weeks’ crusades commenced in November 2002 at Mlolongo and Kwa Mbemba. Ev. Njaga would hold services from 5-6pm at Mlolongo and from 7-8pm at Kwa Mbemba. He also conducted door-to-door evangelism at Kwa Mbemba. By the end of the crusades, a Sabbath School was started at Mary Metobo’s house at Kwa Mbemba. Her house had a large compound and members worshipped under a shade of a large eucalyptus tree in the morning and in the afternoon under some grevillea trees at the front part of her house.
The young Sabbath School received support from the late Pastor Kungu, Eld John Kamau, Eld Jones Mokoro, Julius Munuve (who was a caretaker at Nairobi South Church at the time, but later trained as a pastor. He now works in Kayole District) and Jared Ondieki (who was a youth at Nairobi South Church and now an Elder).
The Sabbath School also received support from student pastors from the University of Eastern Africa Baraton, Bugema University and Arusha University, among them Gathenge, Munyao, Kariuki, Nderitu, Mathenge, Bigogo, Nyaenya, Mutuku, Nyangau and Nyaga (all the students are now pastors working in the Lord’s vineyard in various parts of the country).
Early members who joined the Sabbath School were Richard Jara Wandunga, Jeremiah Mutua, Pastor George Maneno’s family, among others. The Sabbath School continued at Kwa Mbemba for two years. However, there were challenges such as low attendance in the early days and disturbance from a family in what was perceived to be ‘a witchcraft case’ which nearly led to the closure of the Sabbath School.
God stood with His servants during the stormy period. Soon there was a steady growth in membership and plans to purchase land for the Sabbath School kicked off. Land at Kwa Mbemba was expensive. While looking and asking around, we discovered that land was affordable at Syokimau area.
Church moves to Syokimau
In 2004, the Sabbath School relocated to Kicheko village. It was hosted in a small house that could barely accommodate 15 people. The Sabbath School was there for about one and half years. One crusade was conducted at Kicheko village.
Membership continued to grow (it was at this stage that the families of Elders Jairus Ombega, Stanley Momanyi and Richard Mecha, Janet Odero, among others, came on board) and some members came from far off places, like Pr George Maneno and Sis Irene Ogonda.
At the time, there was a church at Katani. It was felt that there was need to establish a Central Church in Syokimau, to spread the gospel in Syokimau area. With that in mind, land was purchased, and the Sabbath School relocated from Kicheko village to Church Road off Katani Road. It was named Syokimau Sabbath School. It took off in a makeshift structure.
Later, Nairobi South Church donated iron sheets to replace the makeshift structure. The iron sheets were sufficient to put up a big structure and the caretaker’s house. Abraham Ndung’u became the first caretaker of the Sabbath School, and thereafter Richard Wandunga who has held the position to date.
Syokimau Sabbath School was organized as a full-fledged church in 2008. It later gave birth to four Sabbath Schools namely, Great Hope Kicheko, Syokimau East, Sabaki Central and Airport View. The last three Sabbath Schools were organized to full-fledged Churches within six or more months of their establishment.
Great Hope Kicheko
Great Hope Kicheko Sabbath School was established in 2010 and was situated in Kicheko Village. Mary Gachoka and I moved to Kicheko Sabbath School while Mary Metobo continued to worship at Syokimau Sabbath School as time allowed her, after she established a children’s home at Ruai known as Motherly Care Children’s Home on a full-time basis, with the three of us being its founder members. The growth of Kicheko Sabbath School was very slow and stunted, such that the other Sabbath Schools were organized to full churches before the first-born Sabbath School. In 2015, Eld Andrew Amollo became a full time elder at Kicheko Sabbath School and God used him mightily, among other elders. Kicheko revived and started growing again.
Over last three years, the Sabbath School has had remarkable growth especially after land was purchased leading to its relocation to the outskirts of Kicheko village.
We thank God for the long walk. We have seen His hand all through, from Kwa Mbemba till now that Great Hope Kicheko has come of age and ready to be organized to a full-fledged church today, 19th June 2021.
At the time, there was a Church at Katani. It was felt that there was need to establish a central church in Syokimau, to spread the gospel in Syokimau area. With that in mind, land was purchased, and the Sabbath School relocated from Kicheko village to Church Road off Katani Road. It was named Syokimau Sabbath School. It took off in a makeshift structure.
Syokimau Central Church was organized as a Church and later gave birth to three churches, namely Syokimau East, Sabaki Central and Airport View.
There are plans to organize Kicheko Sabbath School as a full church, to be named SDA Church Great Hope Kicheko.
Glory to God!
Additional Information by Bro. Richard Jara Wandunga
