The Memoir, Ministry, and Martyrdom of David Koi (1820–1895) of Forodhoyo Kitoro Christian Community, Kilifi, Kenya

Abstract

Significantly, Evangelist David Koi was murdered at the Kenyan Coast two years before the execution of the famous Ugandan Martyrs. And yet, the story of East African Christianity is often told without any significant mention of his contribution. The purpose of this article is to reconstruct the story of David Koi using literary works, family oral narratives, and archival documents to document his memoir, ministry, and martyrdom. The article argues that whereas Koi was ignored by Church Missionary Society Europeans in Rabai as a unique leader of a kitoro African Christian village, rejected by his people, the Agiriama, as an African chief who advocated a “whiteman’s religion,” hated by Muslim Arabs as the one providing hiding haven for their run-away slaves, and suspected by the British colonial masters as the elitist leader who protected his people against intended taxes, Koi’s life, leadership, and death have never been appreciated enough as a hero of quite uncertain times.