Kenya Religion

Kenya is predominantly a Christian society. About 45% of Kenyans are ProKenya Vacationsants and about 33 % Catholics. About 10% of the population adheres to indigenous beliefs while Muslim adherents account for about 10%. Hindu, Sikh and other religions account for about 2%.

Christianity

Missionaries introduced Christianity to Kenya in the 19th century. After the inauguration of Kenya- Uganda rail line, missionaries were able to travel from Mombasa to the interior. Due to the intensive missionary activities in Kenya, most Christian denominations are represented.

Indigenous beliefs

Before Christianity was introduced to Kenya by the missionaries, Kenyans predominantly followed traditional beliefs and rituals. This has changed greatly since the 19th century and only about 10% of the population still follows these practices. Although indigenous beliefs and rituals vary among the ethnic groups in Kenya, they share general characteristics. God is commonly manifested in the sun, moon, mountains, stars and tree particularly the fig tree. The Kikuyu community believed that their God "Ngai" lived on the snow-capped mount Kenya .

Islam

The earliest physical evidence of Islam and Muslim in eastern Africa is a mosque foundation in Lamu , Kenya where gold, silver and copper coins dated AD 830 were found in 1984. Islam was commonly practiced in the East African coast as early as AD1007. Unlike Christianity that quickly spread to the hinterland, Islam remained an urban and coastal phenomenon for a long time.

Hinduism

Hinduism found its way to Kenya from the coastal trade routs between India and the coastal communities of East Africa. Many people from Indian subcontinent settled in Nairobi and Mombasa after the completion of Kenya Uganda railway line. Both Nairobi and Mombasa have a number of Hindu temples.