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Njoya, a Presbyterian, is at the forefront of an effort not only to rid the country of a corrupt government but to make the church as passionately committed to social justice as it is to church growth and biblical faith. He therefore often finds himself at loggerheads with elements in both church and state. Responding to criticism that the church has chosen sides in the country's politics, Njoya freely admits that the church is the most partisan institution in the world. "The church is partisan against injustice, oppression, and dictatorship," he said to the Nairobi newspaper The Nation.

"The Constitution should give us the right to hire and fire our governments," Njoya added. "Instead, it has colonized us. Sovereignty does not belong to us. We have been denied that."

On December 10, he received Canada's prestigious John Humphrey Freedom Award for his efforts to strengthen human rights and democracy in Kenya.

The award, given each year by the Montreal—based International Center for Human Rights and Democratic Development, is named in honor of John Peters Humphrey, the Canadian who prepared the first draft of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

"We hope that this international award will help provide some form of protection to Reverend Timothy Njoya, who has been targeted by the Kenyan police," said Warren Allmand, president of the center. "He is an inspiration to all those who continue to struggle for peace, justice, and equality in Kenya."

Tokunboh Adeyemo, general secretary of the Association of Evangelicals in Africa, calls Njoya an evangelical social prophet who, like "Desmond Tutu or Martin Luther King … is driven by a proper understanding of the demands of God's kingdom here and now."

Njoya's place at the head of many Nairobi protest marches makes him an easy target for Kenya's riot police, pro-government street thugs, and news photographers. His causes are varied, ranging from demands for political pluralism and democratic values to stiffer laws against domestic violence and protecting the rights of street hawkers.

Clashes are usually brief, loud, and bloody. Njoya typically approaches police lines holding a placard above his head. The police often come in full riot gear, wielding clubs, with instructions to "teach Njoya a lesson," leaving him bleeding on the street and his fellow protesters scattered.

Njoya, who now leads the largest Presbyterian congregation in Nairobi, considers his main calling as winning souls to Christ—even those of his persecutors. "The police are human beings too, when they are not fulfilling commands," he says.

Isaya Otemba, pastor of the leading Church of God congregation in Nairobi, marvels not only at Njoya's persistence in pursuit of his goals but at his forgiving spirit. "It is remarkable the way Dr. Njoya has been able to manifest this spirit even toward those who, obviously, would have wanted him dead," Otemba says.

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February 5 2001, Vol. 45, No. 2