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Police pursued them into the church, throwing tear-gas canisters and wielding pickax handles. Begging for the mayhem to stop, Njoya advanced toward a senior officer in an attitude of surrender, his hands high above his head. But the police closed in, threw him to the ground, and repeatedly hit him in the head. "They were out to kill me," says Njoya, who suffered a broken hand and 26 head wounds and was comatose for eight hours.

The storming of All Saints Cathedral brought the conservative and liberal wings of the Kenyan church a little closer. Njoya found himself preaching to congregations that had shut him and his message of social activism out. It is a controversial message.

"If Kanu's political picture cannot include the participation of all Kenyans in its future picture, then the church must take over the role," he told The Nation. "Kenyans own this country and must resist being treated as incidental burdens."

Njoya, married to Leah Wamboi Njau, a leading advocate for women, frequently crosses swords with church leaders who say he involves the church in issues best left to politicians. He stresses that "Jesus did not teach a doctrine of abdication, but of mutual obligation and reciprocal accountability."

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Human rights award 'embarrasses' Kenya—Independent Online(Jan. 16, 2001)

Disciplinary Action Promised Following Police Attacks On journalists—AfricaNews (Jan. 6, 2001)

A voice unstilled—The Montreal Gazette (Sept. 4, 2000)

Previous Christianity Today articles about Kenya include:

Muslim-Christian Riots Rock Nairobi | Will religious fighting lead Kenya to convert to Shari'ah like some Nigerian states? (Dec. 27, 2000)

Kenyan Bishop Calls on Widows to Take Stand Against Wife Inheritance | Joter, polygamy customs criticized for contributing to spreading HIV. (Sept. 1, 2000)

Debt Cancellation a Question of 'Justice', Kenya's Anglican Archbishop Tells Japan | Tokyo skeptical toward Jubilee 2000 message. (April 13, 2000)

Southeastern Seminary student beaten, robbed in Kenya | Family says not attacked because of Christianity, but it's the reason they're going back. (Jan. 10, 2000)

Toppling Tradition? | Christian teachings conflict with tribal customs, national laws. (Sept. 6, 1999)

Cursed by Superficiality (Nov. 16, 1998)

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February 5 2001, Vol. 45, No. 2