Kenya Church Records

For information about records for non-Christian religions in Kenya, go to the Religious Records page.

Online Resources and Websites

 * 1700s-1900s - South Africa, Birth and Baptism Records, 1700s-1900s ($) - index and images
 * The Anglican Church of Kenya

Historical Background
The Anglican Cathedral at Mombasa licensed to perform marriages beginning on 31 May 1905. The Roman Catholic Chapel of the Roman Catholic Mission of Our Lady of Victories at Lyoki, Kyambu district licensed for marriages before 12 January 1920.

Information Recorded in the Records
Baptism registers usually list:
 * Name
 * Date and place of birth/baptism
 * Gender
 * Parents' names (including mother's maiden name)
 * Tribe or chief
 * Witnesses

Historical Background
The predominant religion of Kenya is Christianity; roughly 80% of the total population are Christians. Islam is the second largest religion in Kenya; roughly 10% of the total population practice Islam. The Christian denominations found in Kenya include: Roman Catholic, Protestant, Anglican, Presbyterian, Reformed, Methodist, Baptist, Lutheran, and Pentecostal. Roman Catholicism was first brought to Kenya in the 1400s by Portuguese sailors and later spread rapidly by missionaries. Records were usually kept by the parish. Dutch migrants brought the Dutch Reformed Church to Africa in the 1600s. Several Reformed denominations emerged throughout Kenya, South Africa, Namibia, Swaziland, and elsewhere. The denomination in Kenya became known as the Reformed Church of East Africa. The records for the Dutch Reformed Church have been maintained in good condition. The records were written in Dutch, Afrikaans, and English.

Information Recorded in the Records
Baptism registers usually list:
 * Date and place of baptism
 * Name of the minister
 * Name of the child
 * Date of birth
 * Names of parents, including maiden name of mother
 * Witnesses

Marriage registers usually list:
 * Full names and race of bride and groom
 * Date and place of marriage
 * Groom's age, country of birth, occupation, and residence
 * Bride's age, country of birth, occupation, and residence
 * Name of person giving consent to the marriage
 * Name of person solemnizing the marriage

Membership records usually list:
 * Full name of member
 * Date of birth
 * Date they joined
 * Where they joined
 * Pastor that oversaw joining

Online Resources and Websites

 * 1700s-1900s - South Africa, Birth and Baptism Records, 1700s-1900s ($) - index and images

Historical Background
Roman Catholicism was brought to Kenya in the 1400s by the Portuguese. It was spread rapidly throughout Kenya by missionaries in the 1900s.

The Roman Catholic Chapel of the Roman Catholic Mission of Our Lady of Victories at Lyoki, Kyambu district licensed for marriages before 12 January 1920.

Information Recorded in the Records
Baptism registers usually list:
 * Name
 * Date and place of birth/baptism
 * Gender
 * Parents' names (including mother's maiden name)
 * Tribe or chief
 * Witnesses

Eastern Orthodox Records
Orthodoxy entered Kenya in the 1940s. The first archdiocese was established in 1959. For more information, see Religion in Kenya and Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria and all Africa.

Evangelical Records
For more information, see Religion in Kenya.

Presbyterian Records
The first Presbyterian church in Africa was founded in 1898. It spread mainly through southern Africa, with its headquarters in South Africa. For more information, see Religion in Kenya and Presbyterian Church of Africa.

Quakers Records
Quakerism entered Kenya in 1902. From there, it spread throughout Kenya. For more information, see Religion in Kenya and Quakers in Africa.