Religion in Kenya

=Christianity=

Christianity was first brought to Kenya in the fifteenth century by the Portuguese and spread rapidly during the nineteenth century, when it experienced a revival. Today, the main Christian denominations in Kenya are Protestant confessions, which make up 38% of the country's religious composition. They include the Anglican Church of Kenya, and the Presbyterian, Reformed, Baptist, and Pentecostal churches. The Roman Catholic Church represents 28% of the population.

Islam

The Sunni path of Islam is the religion of approximately 10% of the Kenyan population. The North Eastern Province is predominantly ethnic Somali and Muslim. The Coast Province also has a significant Muslim population. Nairobi has several mosques and a notable Muslim population.

Religious Shari'ah courts, called Kadhis Courts, are given jurisdiction over certain civil matters such as divorce and inheritance under the constitution of Kenya.

Muslims have complained that they are targeted and discriminated against by the government, particularly since the 1998 United States embassy bombings in Nairobi and elsewhere.

Baha'í Faith

Present in Kenya from 1945, in its brief history the religion grew to an estimated of 308,000 in 2005 [Year 2000 Estimated Baha'i statistics from: David Barrett, World Christian Encyclopedia, 2000; Total population statistics, mid-2000 from Population Reference Bureau [http://www.prb.org] ] or about 1% of the population. [cite encyclopedia
title = WCC > Member churches > Regions > Africa > Kenya
encyclopedia = World Council of Churches
publisher = World Council of Churches
url = http://www.oikoumene.org/en/member-churches/regions/africa/kenya.html
date = 2008
accessdate = 2008-04-06] [cite web
coauthors = U.S. State Department
title = Background Note: Kenya
publisher = The Office of Electronic Information, Bureau of Public Affair
year = 2007
url = http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2962.htm
accessdate = 2008-04-06] In the 1990's the Bahá'ís in Kenya participated in a nation-wide community health project including vacinations, maintaining latrines and developing clean water sources. [ [http://www.onecountry.org/oc74/oc7406as.html Community health workers in Kenya stir broad changes] Volume 7, Issue 4 March - January 1996 ]

References

* [http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2006/71307.htm International Religious Freedom Report 2006 - Kenya] , "US State Department", 2006-09-15, accessed on 2007-08-31

* History of the World's Religions (12th Edition), Noss S. David: ISBN-13: 978-0136149842