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Presbyterian Church Of East Africa

Presbyterian Church Of East Africa

The Celebration of a Century - 2026

Sunday, 15th March 2026 marked a celebration of 100 years since the ordination of the first PCEA African ministers under the theme “Finding the Book” (2 Kings 22:8). The event brought together Presbyterian ministers from the different regions of the country in a historic gathering. The celebrations were held at PCEA Church of the Torch – Thogoto Parish, one of the oldest PCEA churches, built in 1928, and among the churches where five of the first African ministers were ordained

100 Years Ago

In the early 1900’s courses of instruction for evangelists were being carried out at Tumutumu by Marion Stevenson and at Kikuyu by Dr Arthur. These newly trained evangelists were sent out to preach and start congregations in various parts of the country. However, there was great need of African ordained ministers to carry on the work of the church. 

Rev. Dr Calderwood – who was stationed at Tumutumu Mission – was appointed in 1921 to organise courses of study for senior evangelists and were to include the preparation of study guidelines and a syllabus designed to lead to the evangelists’ ordination as ministers. Eight students, three from Kikuyu and five from Tumutumu, were recommended to be trained for ordination.

On 7th March 1926, the three evangelists from Kikuyu, Musa Gitau, Benjamin Githieya and Joshua Matenjwa were ordained  at the Church of the Torch, in Thogoto. Paulo Kahuho, Solomon Ndambi, Jeremiah Waita, Joshua Riunga and Simeoni Karechu, were ordained on  March 14th the same year, at Tumutumu. 

First African Ministers ordained at Kikuyu
First African Ministers Ordained at Tumutumu

The Firsts at 1926

Rev. Musa Gitau

Rev. Musa was born in Gatundu about 1885. After his ordination he was the first posted to Thogoto, where he stayed until 1935. Between 1936 and 1939, he served at Ruthimitu. In 1940, he was posted to Githiga and Limuru. After his retirement in 1947, he continued in a voluntary capacity the work for which he was ordained until the time of his death in 1971. He was also a teacher and one of his pupils was His Excellency Mzee Jomo Kenyatta.

Rev. Joshua Matenjwa

Rev. Joshua Matenjwa was posted to Limuru where he remained until 1931. In 1932, he was sent to Githiga and Limuru, after which he served in Elburgon, Thogoto and Nairobi. He retired in 1953 after serving in many other occupations. He died in 1966. He emphased on the need for the young people to seek advice from their elders.

Rev. Jeremiah Waita

Rev. Jeremiah Waita was sent to Chogoria after ordination. He worked there until 1929, when Rev Solomon Ndambi relieved him. Jeremiah Waita later left the ministry.

Rev. Paulo Kahuho Gachomba

Rev. Paulo was sent to Mahiga in Othaya where he worked until 1933. Between 1934 and 1936, he was at Kiamwangi near Karatina. He was then sent to Muthithi in Murang’a where he served God until 1943.

Rev. Simeon Karechu

Rev Simeon Karechu was posted to Mihuti in Mukurwe-ini, Nyeri District, in 1933. In 1934, he served for sometime at Tumutumu, after which he was posted to Subukia where he served as their first ordained minister and remained there until 1938. Between 1939 and 1942, he was at Rware (Nyeri), and then was posted to Kiamwangi in 1943 where he served the church for several years.

Rev. Joshua Riunga

Rev. Joshua Riunga was sent to Kiamwangi until 1931, after which he served at Tumutumu until 1935. He was then sent to Magutu, near the Mount Kenya forest north of Karatina, and worked there until 1945.

Rev. Solomon Ndambi Kagema

Rev Solomon was sent to Tumutumu, where he worked until 1928. In 1929 he volunteered to go to Chogoria where he served until 1933, and then was sent to Nyeri, Muthithi, Kiamwangi and Magutu respectively.

Rev. Benjamin Githieya

The Rev Benjamin Githieya was posted to Limuru where he served until 1934. In 1935, he became the first African Presbyterian minister to serve in Nairobi, working at Pumwani. Later he was sent to Elburgon where he served until 1941, when he went to Ruthimitu and Ngong. He fought very strongly over the issue of drunkenness. 

Sources: Muita, I. W. (2003) Hewn from the Quarry. Page 24 & 25.

Vision

To be a Great and Dynamic Godly Model Church for holistic Service in Pursuance of the Great Commission.

PCEA exists to equip members, reach out to all, for effective service through preaching, teaching, wellness and enterprise development relying on the power of God.

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