The Anglican Church of Kenya (ACK) and the National Museums of Kenya have announced plans to build a tower to honour David Koi, the first religious Martyr in East and Central Africa who was killed by Arab Slave traders at Forodhoyo in Ganze Sub County of Kilifi county for refusing to denounce his Christian faith.
Koi was reportedly buried alive by the Arab slave traders who left only his head on the surface and later they cut off his head after he refused to stop preaching the gospel.
Currently, the church has partnered with the National Museum of Kenya to record the ancient history of Koi who is believed to be the first to be killed for his faith before the Uganda Martyrs.
To also honour the Martyr, the ACK unveiled a plan to construct a mega-church at Mijomboni which will be named after Koi.
Together with NMK, they organised exhibitions of ancient heroes and heroines who championed against slave trade which was graced by the Malindi ACK Bishop Reuben Katite, Retired ACK Bishop Mombasa diocese Julius Kalu, Kilifi Deputy Governor Flora Chibule, area Member of Parliament and Deputy Majority leader of Parliament Owen Baya among other leaders and faithful.
The David Koi Mijomboni ACK Parish is being led by Reverend Tom Dawa who also unveiled the plan for the new church to be built which would be massive.
Retired Bishop Kalu gave a rich history of the late Martyr and expressed the need for proper documentation and honour of the hero who died defending Christianity.
During his tenure, he said he visited Forodhoi where the martyr was buried with intentions of getting land to build the tower but the community was rejected.
The MP who is from the Ack Church committed to push for funding to build the tower for the Martyr and asked the church to work with NMK to draft a proposal for the project which would also include the documentation part.
He said that when parliament resumes on November 4th he would take the proposal to parliament to push for the funding.
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Kilifi Deputy Governor On her part brought the Chief officer in charge of culture and CEC member for health and declared full support in the process to honour the Martyr and other heroes and heroines.
Chibule said that Kilifi has a rich history that can help place it on the global map, as it dates back many centuries.
Bishop Katite, on his part, said that he was committed to ensuring the proposal was done and constituted a team to begin the process at his church, which would work with NMK and the County Government of Kilifi.
William Tsaka from the National Museums of Kenya said that they had organized the exhibition for those who played a key role in fighting against the slave trade, which brought slaves to the church, including Koi.
He said as National Museums they were ready to offer technical support and expertise to make the project a success.
By Nehemiah Okwembah
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