Christianity is the main religion in Kenya. As of 2019, over 85 percent of the population identified as Christians, among which 33.4 percent were Protestants, 20.6 percent Catholics, 20.4 percent Evangelicals, and seven percent from African Instituted Churches. Furthermore, nearly 11 percent of Kenyans were Muslim.
How many religions do we have in Kenya?
Kenya –Religion. Approximately 70% of Kenyans are Christians (38% Protestant, 28% Catholic); about 25% are adherents of indigenous religions; 6% are Muslim. [1] Among the Asian community there are Hindus, Sikhs, Parsees, and Bahais.
What is the main religion in Nairobi?
At present, the majority of residents of and visitors to Nairobi are Christian. Modern-day Christianity in Kenya dates back to around 1844 when a CMS missionary settled near the coastal city of Mombasa.
Is religion important in Kenya?
Religion plays an important role in the life of most Kenyans. Many people will visit their place of worship both to practise their religion as well as to socialise with friends, family and acquaintances. Christianity was introduced to Kenya when missionaries settled near Mombasa in 1844. …
When did Christianity start in Kenya?
Modern Christianity in Kenya dates from 1844, when a CMS missionary settled near Mombasa, but little progress was made until the 1870s. A settlement for freed slaves established at Freretown, near Mombasa, prospered, and the first Kenyans were ordained in 1885.
What is the main religion in Kenya?
Christianity is the main religion in Kenya.
Is Kenya an Islamic country?
Kenya is a predominantly Christian country, with Muslims making up about 11% of its population, mostly along the north-eastern parts, its coastal region, and in cities such as Mombasa. Muslims in Kenya largely live along the coast, while the inland population is predominantly Christian except in places such as Mumias.
What is the religion in East Africa?
The majority of Africans are adherents of Christianity or Islam. African people often combine the practice of their traditional belief with the practice of Abrahamic religions.
Which was the first church in Kenya?
The church was founded as the diocese of Eastern Equatorial Africa (Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania) in 1884, with James Hannington as the first bishop; however, Protestant missionary activity had been present in the area since 1844, when Johann Ludwig Krapf, a Lutheran missionary, landed in Mombasa.
When did the first missionary arrived in Kenya?
In 1844 the first two missionaries had arrived at Mombasa, Dr Johann Ludwig Krapf and his wife Rosina. She had given birth to a daughter a few weeks after their arrival, and had died shortly afterwards of puerperal fever. The baby died a few days later.
How many Muslims are in Mombasa?
Mombasa is at ground zero
For many concerned about radical influences, Mombasa, where 41 percent of the population is Muslim, is ground zero. The dilapidated colonial-era buildings in Kenya’s second largest city house the unofficial headquarters of many key Muslim organizations.
How did Christianity arrive in Kenya?
Roman Catholicism was first brought to Kenya in the fifteenth century by the Portuguese, and was spread rapidly during the 20th century by missionaries. Today, the main Christian denominations in Kenya are Protestant confessions, which make up about 60% of the country’s religious composition.
How did Christianity arrive in East Africa?
According to Ethiopian tradition, Christianity first came to the Aksum Empire in the fourth century A.D. when a Greek-speaking missionary named Frumentius converted King Ezana.
When did Christianity enter East Africa?
In the 4th century, the Aksumite empire in modern-day Eritrea and Ethiopia became one of the first regions in the world to adopt Christianity as an official religion and the Nubian kingdoms of Nobatia, Makuria and Alodia followed two centuries later.