Brief History
The United Methodist Church legally came into force on April 23rd, 1968 when two denominations namely: The Evangelical United Brethren Church and The Methodist Church united together in a historic conference in Dallas, Taxes USA. The Constitution was adopted in Chicago, Illinois, on Nov. 11, 1966, by the General Conferences of The Evangelical United Brethren Church and The Methodist Church and thereafter by the requisite vote in the annual conferences of the two churches. However, United Methodist Church shares a common history and heritage with other Methodist and Wesleyan bodies. The denomination is believed to originate from an England Anglican preacher John Wesley (1703-1791) and his brother, Charles (1707-1788). The duo’s missionary passion and ministry made the movement spread throughout the global until it reached Kenya in early 1960s the British Methodist and 1990s the United Methodist respectively.
Origin of United Methodist church in Kenya
The UMC in Kenya was birthed in 1992 January, as three pastors led by Rev David Egessa, Thomas Moses Adenyi and Carol Alois Ososo sat under the granary contemplating the need to have a mission emanating from the region. Therefore, Rev Ferdinand David Egessa met with Rev Solomon Muwanga who was then the leader of UMC Uganda and struck a deal to have UMC registered in Kenya. The three leaders in Kenya then were Charismatic movements UZIMA TELE (Abundant Life) MINISTRIES of both Busia Kenya & Uganda which later changed its name to Lord’s Ministries. Thus, UMC was legally registered in Kenya on Sept 7th 1993. Hence, officially received to the then Burundi Annual conference session at Methodist Guest house in July 26th-to 30th 1996 as Kenya District with only 13 churches forming five parishes namely Dirakho, Funyula, Sagania, Bufuma and Port Victoria with a population of 3,500 people, according to Burundi Annual Conference 1996 as the conference brought together a total of 73 delegates as: 12 from Burundians plus 10 observers, Kenyans 16, Ugandans 31, Rwandese 3, (UMCO UMC 1996 p 6).
The Apostolic Spirit of the Great Commission (Mathew 28:18-20) made the young UMC spread to all regions formerly then the eight provinces of Kenya, today 47 Counties. Therefore, during Annual Conferences Session Held at Lake Side Tourist lodge Naivasha in 1999, necessitated the creation of two District in Kenya namely: Busia, (the Mother District) then Nyanza District. Naivasha UMC Parish was an extension of the UMC Mission work in Nairobi giving birth to the church in Naivasha. The Naivasha circuit and Kayole St John’s Parish in Nairobi formed what was formerly known as Central District now Naivasha, Nakuru and Nairobi districts created in October 10th, 2007. Others which were created included Nyanza Central out of the former Nyanza district. Lately, there are fourteen districts in Kenya and one mission district in Ethiopia. The 2016 Africa Central Conference created Kenya-Ethiopia Annual Conference out of the former East Africa Annual Conference of United Methodist Church which ratified and dissolved by the 26th session of the East Africa joint session in Nangina, Busia district Kenya.
