History, development and impact of the presbyterian church of east africa in the eastern region, kenya (1915 -2022)

Abstract

This study sought to trace the history of PCEA in the Eastern Region from 1915 to 2022. The study also sought to analyze the spread and numerical growth of PCEA in the Eastern Region from 1915 to 2022. The impact on the social, economic and political transformation of PCEA in the Eastern Region was also assessed. The research questions included what is the history of PCEA in the Eastern Region. How has PCEA been spreading and growing numerically in the Eastern Region and how has PCEA impacted on the social, economic and political transformation in the Eastern Region? The justification for this study is that the Eastern Region is one of the administrative units of PCEA and PCEA is one of the earliest denominations in the Eastern Region but its milestones and influence in the region has not been fully analyzed. The purpose of this study was to trace the history, development and impact of PCEA in the Eastern Region from 1915 to 2022. The study was guided by two theories. Hegel’s Linear Theory of History and Max Weber’s theory of Sociology of Religion. Hegel described history as a continual refinement of intellectual understanding and that history is progressive. This was used in tracing the history of PCEA in the Eastern Region and analyzing the spread and numerical growth of PCEA in the Eastern Region. The impact of PCEA in the Eastern Region was assessed using Max Weber’s Theory of the Sociology of Religion, Weber (1920) says that religion is a source of social change and stability. The research adopted the descriptive research survey design. The target population for this study was the 60,862 members of PCEA in the Eastern Region. A sample of 449 was used for this study. It included nine Presbytery moderators, 73 church ministers and 381 church members. The Presbytery Moderators were purposively selected; the parish ministers were selected using stratified sampling techniques while the church members were identified through simple random sampling. The respondents for this study were 438 who included 9 Presbytery moderators, 59 church ministers and 376 church members. Descriptive survey research method was used to generate both qualitative and quantitative data. Oral interviews and questionnaires were used to collect data from the, presbytery moderators, church ministers and the members of the church. Tape recorded data from the interviews was transcribed verbatim. Data was analysed qualitatively and presented using tables, percentages, figures and discussions. The study established that PCEA was brought to the Eastern Region by the Church of Scotland Mission in 1915 and that it has experienced numerical growth since its inception and has greatly impacted on the social, economic and political transformation in the Eastern Region. The study recommends that the PCEA should improve on data storage methods to avoid loss of important information about the milestones of the church. The Church should devise new strategies to ensure balance of numerical and spiritual growth. The study contributed a body of knowledge in the social historical perspective of religious study by elucidating the history, development and impact of PCEA in the Eastern Region.