There are an estimated 4.3 million Muslims living in Kenya, which is about 11% of the country’s population; however, some authorities put the percentage much higher, at nearly 8 million, which would be about 20% of the nation. In recent years, Islam has made significant inroads in government and social institutions, such as banking. Struggling evangelical church planters serving in the remote western hills of Kenya have been forgotten and neglected by their more educated Christian compatriots in Nairobi. Many homes in this region have no access to electricity or running water, and conditions can best be described as “developing.”

A little more than a decade ago, among the Luo tribe, about 100 villages in western Kenya were decimated by HIV/AIDS, often with about 90% or more of their adult population having died. This has led to a significant crisis of orphan care. The impact on churches has been severe, as the make-up of most congregations is now predominantly children and youth, elderly widows, and just a smattering of employed adults (although this segment is now beginning to grow again as the children become young adults).

The cost of living in Kenya has doubled since 2010. According to tradingeconomics.com, during the past decade, Kenya’s inflation rates have risen sometimes as high as 31.5% in a single year; during the past seven years the GDP growth rate has consistently been less than 2%. According to the CIA’s World Factbook, “unemployment and under-employment are extremely high, and could be near 40% of the population” with more than 36% of the people living on incomes below the poverty level. Since 2010, a strong albeit informal alliance of evangelical pastors in the western region has been taking hold. The Luo tribe has recently established a Bible institute, which is working toward accreditation, and could serve as a seedbed for future local church planters.