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History of NCCK

Our History

Formation and Development of the Council

The National Council of Churches of Kenya was established in June 1913 during the United Missionary Conference when the representatives of four missionary organizations signed a constitution to establish the Federation of Missions. The United Missionary Conference was the culmination of other meetings that were held in 1908, 1909, and 1911. The four organizations that established the Federation of Missions were:

    • Church Missionary Society (CMS), today’s Anglican Church of Kenya

    • Church of Scotland Mission (CSM), today’s Presbyterian Church of East Africa

    • United Methodist Mission (UMM), today’s Methodist Church in Kenya

    • African Inland Mission (AIM), today’s Africa Inland Church

The Federation of Missions was formed to facilitate the effectiveness of missionary organizations, especially in the work of translation, education, industrial work, and evangelism. It was also meant to promote the unity of the church in Kenya. As such, NCCK is the oldest ecumenical organization in Kenya.

With time, the name of the Federation was changed to reflect the prevailing context:

1913 – Federation of Missions (Federation formed to promote the effectiveness of missionary organizations)

1918 – Alliance of Protestant Missions (Recognition that members were pursuing a common mission)

1924 – Kenya Missionary Council (Recognition that a single church was not possible while widening the scope of members)

1943 – Christian Council of Kenya (To allow participation of African Instituted Churches)

1966 – National Christian Council of Kenya (To embrace nationalism)

1984 – National Council of Churches of Kenya (to reflect that membership was by churches, not individuals)

Remaining true to the original vision, the NCCK has over the years worked to improve the lives of the people as summarized in the table below:

Decade by Decade highlights of Council’s Work

Decade Highlight of NCCK’s Work
1900 – 1909 Missionary activity intensifies, and a series of meetings are held (Vihiga 1907, Maseno 1908, Maseno 1909, Nairobi 1909, Kijabe 1909, Nairobi 1910, Nairobi 1911). The Missionaries eventually agreed to work towards a united self-governing, self-supporting and self-extending Native Church.
1910- 1919 The Alliance represented Africans during the land questions discussions in London leading to the development of the Devonshire White Paper, which stated that Kenya primarily belonged to the Africans, and the interests of migrant races were to be subservient.1924: Kenya Missionary Council (KMC) was adopted as a more representative body. The Alliance High School was established in 1926, as the first higher education institution for Africans. Influence on government policy on education
1920 – 1929  The Alliance represented Africans during the land questions discussions in London leading to the development of the Devonshire White Paper, which stated that Kenya primarily belonged to the Africans, and the interests of migrant races were to be subservient.1924: Kenya Missionary Council (KMC) was adopted as a more representative body. The Alliance High School was established in 1926, as the first higher education institution for Africans.Influence on government policy on education
1930 – 1939  Kenya Missionary Council continued with the rehabilitation of former soldiers. Mission health facilities and schools were set up targeting Africans. Advocacy against compulsory unpaid labor among the natives.Facilitated Race Relations interventions to enhance effective working relations between Europeans and Africans.
1940 – 1949  The KMC changed into the Christian Council of Kenya (CCK) in 1943. This was a period of expansion of social services delivery to Africans by the churches, at a time when the locals were neglected by the government. Use of media to deliver programmes on family life, education, and bible teaching. Mechanisms for the rehabilitation of former soldiers (2nd World War) were put in place.
1950 – 1959  The CCK organized a visit to Jomo Kenyatta in prison and urged the Governor to release him. After the attainment of independence, the Council intensified social services delivery, and in addition to schools, Rural Training Centres were established. This was followed by the opening of Village Polytechnics, an idea that was to be adopted by the government in the 1970s. Advocated for access to education by disabled children. The name of the Council was in 1966 changed to National Christian Council of Kenya (NCCK).
1960 – 1969 Advocacy on land ownership and corruption. In subsequent years, the Council organized the “Kenya We Want” seminars.
1970 – 1979  The NCCK Peace Building and Development programme was established in response to the ethnic clashes that erupted in various places around the country in the early 1990s.To prepare the people for effective political participation, a massive civic education programme was implemented.Elections monitoring was organized during the 1992 and 1997 elections.
1980 – 1989  The Council, whose name changed to National Council of Churches of Kenya in 1984, intensified efforts to urge for the civil rights of the people. The Pastors’ Conference of 1986 condemned the adoption of queue voting by the KANU government. Advocacy against massive rigging in the 1988 elections led to the banning of the Council’s publication, Beyond.
1990 – 1999  The NCCK Peace Building and Development programme was established in response to the ethnic clashes that erupted in various places around the country in the early 1990s.To prepare the people for effective political participation, a massive civic education programme was implemented. Elections monitoring was organized during the 1992 and 1997 elections.
2000 – 2009  The Council continued to advocate for engagement by the people in governanceIntensified civic education led to massive participation by the people during the elections of 2002 where the long-serving KANU party government was defeatedPeace building programmes were effected after the post elections violence of 2007
2010 – 2019 Push for structured national dialogue focus on food security, climate change governance and mitigation, health, education, and governance support to community to prevent and manage COVID-19 pandemic
2020 – Date Push for structured national dialogue focus on food security, climate change governance and mitigation, health, education, and governance support to the community to prevent and manage COVID-19 pandemic