Abstract:
This study examined the Idakho culture during pre- colonial period and the social
transformation when they interacted with Christian values by focusing on Church of God
Mission. The spread of Christianity and western education in Idakho had a broad impact
as an approach to reinforce evangelization and to win converts. Education as taught by
missionaries of Church of God led to the emergence of pioneer teacher evangelists and
the educated elite who had comparatively well paid jobs as professional teachers, clerks,
local administrators and farmers. These pioneer educated elite and their children
consolidated their social and economic power, both in the church and the Kenyan
Government. This study attempted to assess the role of the Church of God in the
transformation of Idakho. The specific objectives of the study were to; examine the
culture of the Idakho before the coming of Christian missionaries, examine the
establishment of the Church of God in Idakho, explore the responses of the Idakho to
Christianity and identify and analyse the role of Church of God mission in Idakho
societal transformation. The study spans through three phases namely; pre-colonial
Idakho, which saw the political, social and economic organization of the Idakho before
they interacted with Christian values; 1905-1935, which saw the establishment of the
Church of God in Idakho, the Idakho conversion to Church of God and the emergence of
Church of God pioneer teacher-evangelists; 1935-1953, which saw the emergence of
Church of God educated elite who were also professional teachers, clerks as well as
commercial and agricultural elite; 1953-1972, which witnessed the impact of the Church
of God as an instrument of transformation in Idakho and the transfer of power and
property from the Church of God Missionary board to the indigenous African. The
initiatives and the struggles of the Idakho for betterment of their educational status is also
given special attention. Methodology for this study involved data collection from
secondary sources and mostly primary data derived from archival and field research. Data
analysis was done along the lines of conflict functionalism theory. The study concludes
that the difficult financial situation that had faced Church of God missionary board
hindered the expansion of the church in Idakho. Therefore the survival of the Church of
God in Idakho depended on the influence of the teacher-evangelist and the educated elite.
Moreover, the early success of education and other programs like health and agriculture
led to the development of the educated elite who became agents of transformation.
