Why history-rich Kaimosi is western Kenya’s education hub

A panoramic view of an area of Kaimosi in Vihiga County. PHOTO | VIVERE NANDIEMO | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • Township is the home of Quakers movement in the country.
  • Here is where you will find the country’s oldest formal school.

What welcomes you to Kaimosi is its lush green environment, consisting of trees and tea plantations.

The town is located on the Chavakali-Kapsabet-Eldoret Road, between Shamakhokho and Cheptul townships.  

For those who follow Kenya’s history, when the name Kaimosi is mentioned, what quickly comes to mind is the Quaker Mission.

The area is known as the centre of the Friends Church.

In 1902, missionaries Arthur Chilson and Edgar Hole travelled from the US to Kenya with a mission to spread the gospel and give locals vocational training.

FRIENDS MISSION

The British colonial administration helped the two to locate a 1,000-acre parcel of land in Kaimosi, where they pitched tent and began the Friends African Industrial Mission.

This mission gave rise to the Friends Church across Vihiga County and beyond.

The missionaries embarked on establishing educational, vocational and health institutions that have transformed the lives of many in the country.

Indeed, Kaimosi boasts being the biggest township in Vihiga County, owing to a concentration of various educational institutions — all thanks to the Friends Mission.

It is a one-stop education shop in the county. Here you will find Friends Kaimosi Primary School (the oldest formal school in Kenya), Kaimosi Boys Secondary School, Kaimosi Girls Secondary School, Friends University — a constituent college of Masinde Muliro University, Kaimosi Technical Training College, Kaimosi Special School for the Mentally Handicapped  and the famous Kaimosi Bible College.

Kaimosi Mission Hospital serves thousands of people from various counties.

The town is mostly inhabited by the Tiriki sub-tribe of the Luhya. They are known for their strict traditions that accompany the rite of circumcision.

During the occasion, the initiates are secluded in a forest with no visitors allowed in the community during this time.

Kaimosi Forest, on the southeastern part of the county, is one of the sites to visit.

The forest is home to diverse bird and tree species. The serene beauty of the forest makes it an ideal getaway for people looking to have a relaxed day out.

Then there is the revered Kibiri Forest, where the Tiriki conduct circumcision.

The area is also dotted with huge rocks and caves that make it attractive for adventure seekers.

Most Kenyans remember Shamakhokho as the township where rebellion against the Moi administration really started. Residents registered their displeasure against the Kanu regime by throwing stones and rotten eggs at his motorcade.

GSU personnel descended on the village, brutally lashing anyone on site. Shamakhokho is a stone’s throw away from Kaimosi.

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