I have learnt of Archbishop Samson Gaitho’s death with a lot of regret. I send deeply felt condolences to his family, friends and members of the Africa Independent Pentecostal Church of Africa, which he headed until very recently.
Archbishop Gaitho’s death is not just a loss to the church he fought so hard to sustain and grow. It is a loss to our entire Kenyan society, and particularly to those who follow the history of our country with pain and pride.
As leader of AIPCA, Archbishop Gaitho was a leader of a movement whose rich history is intertwined with that of our nation. Under him, AIPCA stayed at the centre of the undying debate on where we are coming from and where we want to go as a nation.
The history of AIPCA, is closely tied to that of our very emergence as a nation. It is closely tied to the rise of the resistance to colonialism in Central Kenya in particular. Over the years though, this role has been downplayed by those who wish to rewrite the history of the nation and give heroic roles to individuals and institutions that don’t deserve them.
Over time, Archbishop Gaitho and I became close friends, often discussing which direction we ought to take as a nation. I witnessed his efforts to unite the people of Kenya, beginning with places where his Church is vastly present and influential.
Archbishop Gaitho had very strong views on the dignity of the African people and their place on this planet. But he was never a renegade though. He stood for the use of modern developments and institutions in a way that protected and defended the dignity of our people.
This is seen in AIPCA’s decision to break away from Christian churches but retaining the Christian teachings at the same time. It is seen in AIPCA’s pullout from colonial education schools, but investing massively in education at the same time.
These are battles the church fought, and struggles Archbishop Gaitho supported, till his death. Until Archbishop Gaitho remained outspoken on the need to recognise and honour the men and women who laid down their lives for the sake of Kenya’s liberation.
Archbishop Gaitho inherited a church that had internal conflict and warring camps and diplomatically resolved all these conflicts to build a much stronger, more united church. He restructured the church and institutionalized it including getting it a new constitution. As he passed on, he left a church with systems that will serve the church for a long time to come.
The archbishop enhanced the church’s network, including opening two churches in Britain. I can categorically state that archbishop Gaitho was a great leader who fought the good fight. May God rest his soul in everlasting peace.
Rt. Hon. Raila A. Odinga,
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
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