Historic Churches in Makueni

St. Joseph’s Catholic Church Kyale

One of the oldest cathedrals in Makueni County, initially linked with Machakos Diocese, is the St Joseph Catholic Church, also known as Kyale Catholic Church. Like AIC Kalamba and AIC Mukaa, the premier bases for the African Inland Mission in the region, Kyale Cathedral has a rich history rooted in early mission work and its impact on development. Some of the earliest and leading missionary societies here were: The Church Missionary Society, Mill Hill Mission, Holy Ghost Mission, Africa Inland Mission, Church of Scotland Mission and United Methodist Society.

Fr. Horbes, who started the Kilungu mission, founded several parishes, including Mbooni, Kaumoni, Makueni, which are now the core of the Catholic faith in the region. The History of Kyale Catholic Church is intertwined with the broader story of the Catholic Church’s expansion into the Kilungu Hills. While Kilungu Mission Parish began in 1917, Kyale Parish is thought to have started sometime later. The church’s origins are linked to the work of Fr. Wite, a Holy Ghost missionary, who initially established a church at Kikoko and later a branch at Kilome, then as Kyale.

Fr. Wite traveled from St. Peter’s Nairobi with wagons pulled by bulls, settling in Kabaa and then moving to the Kilungu Hills. The Diocese of Machakos, which included Makueni, was erected in 1969. Much later, the diocese saw the creation of new dioceses like Wote; 2023. The Catholic Church in Makueni has also played a significant role in education and development, with the establishment of many great schools and projects aimed at improving the social welfare of the people.

You don’t have to be religious, or even spiritual, to enjoy a beautiful old church. The architecture, the stained glass, the history, and the famous graves all make visiting historic churches a fulfilling activity on any trip. Kenya has a lot of very old and lovely churches, and you can enter most of them free of charge, at any time.

Index of Historic Churches in Kenya

Baringo County - St. Swithin's Church , Elgeyo Marakwet County - Wewo Catholic Church , Homa Bay County - SDA Church Gendia , Asumbi Catholic Church , Isiolo County - St. Eusebius Cathedral , Kericho County - AIC Kericho , The Sacred Heart Cathedral , ACK Kericho , Kiambu County - St. Mary's of the Angels Church, All Saints Limuru, Watson Scott Memorial Church, PCEA Thogoto Mission Church, Kilifi County - Thomas Wakefield Memorial Methodist Church , The Portuguese Chapel , ACK Rabai Church , Kisumu County - St. Theresa’s Cathedral, Kitui County - AIC Ikutha , Lamu County - Lamu Catholic Church , Machakos County - AIC Mumbuni , Makueni County - AIC Kalamba , Kyale Catholic Church , Meru County - St. Joseph's Cathedral , Kaaga Methodist Church , Migori County - Komotobo Mission Church , Mombasa County - The ACK Mombasa Memorial Church , Holy Ghost Cathedral , ACK Emmanuel Church , Muranga County - Muranga St. James & All Martyrs Church , Tuthu Catholic Church , Nairobi County - St. Stephen Cathedral, St. Austins Cathedral, The All Saints Cathedral, Nakuru County - The Church of Goodwill Elementaita, Remembrance Church Njoro, Nyandarua County - Knessiah 7th Day Jewish Main Synagogue , Nyeri County - Tumu Tumu Hill Church, The Consolata Nyeri Cathedral, PCEA St Curthbert Church, Italian Memorial Church, Samburu County - Baragoi Catholic Mission , Siaya County - Rangala Catholic Church, Taita Taveta County - St. Marks Anglican Church , The Bura Mission Catholic Church , ACK Trinity Church Mahoo, Tana River County - Ngao Neukirchen Church , Hola Methodist Church , Tharaka Nithi County - PCEA Chogoria Church , Trans Nzoia County - St. Lukes Anglican Cathedral, St. Patrick's Cathedral, Vihiga County - Kidundu Friends Church , Kima Church of God , African Divine Church , West Pokot County - The Holy Cross Church Kacheliba , The Dini ya Roho Mafuta Pole ya Africa

Flanked by the A109 Nairobi-Mombasa Road on its eastern flank, Makueni County is part of the Lower Eastern Kenya region. Major towns like Mtito Andei and Emali serve as trade hubs along the A109, the former being the traditional halfway stop and rest. Other towns enroute are; Sultan Hamud and Kibwezi. Home to Akamba people, it is so commonly referred to Ukambani – alongside Kitui and Machakos.

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A Guide to Makueni County

A Summa Digest of Makueni

About Makueni Way Back When

50 Destinations in Makueni County , arranged as one would visit these - north, east, west then south - with aid of narratives, images, strip maps and distance chart:

Mbooni Hills , Konza Technopolis , Kilima Kiu Manor , Mulima Dam , ACK Resort Salama , Makongo View Point , Katithini, Wote Green Public Park , Thwake Dam , R. Kaiti Bridge , Kampi ya Mawe , Kusyombunguo Hotel , Nzueni Hill , Nzaui Heritage Trail , Nzaui Rock , Mii Project, Makueni Cultural Center , AIC Kalamba , Kalamba Fruit Factory , Virgin Mary Rock , Emali Hills , Emali Trig , Ka Kindui Falls , Dare Devil's Rock , Kyanzizi Falls , Ilovoto Falls , Kyale Catholic Church , The Kenze Gorges , Kilungu Hills, Hunter's Lodge , Makindu Handicrafts , Makindu Sikh Temple , Mbiu Nzau Hills , Kambua Resort , Kivungoni Springs , Kibwezi Forest , Umani Springs , Chyulu Hills National Park , Kisula Caves , Tsavo West National Park , Tsavo East National Park , Yatta Plateau , Ngai Ndethya National Reserve , Kilalinda Conservancy , Tsavo Safari Camp , P. Cameron Camp , Patterson's Safari Camp

Know More About Makueni County: Its Geography, Land-Use, Highlights, Population, Roads - with the aid of strip maps, Airports, Climate & National Monuments

What’s The Lay Of The Land In C.17?

Makueni County’s terrain is generally low-lying, falling to 600 ms near Tsavo at the southern region. It lies within the arid and semi arid zones.

What’s The Air Like In Makueni?

Climate about Makueni varies based on altitude – with the north being cooler – 20 o C to 24 o C, while the south, more so during the dryer months, between May and October, experience generous heat.

Know More About Makueni County…