1.1 History of the Parish
Background
The Mill Hill Missionaries started their evangelization work in the Witu – Kipini area in1993 when Fr. Albert Buijs MHM decided to move to Kipini to start a new mission there. This move was as a result of the request made in 1990 by the then bishop of Garissa Diocese, Paul Darmanin OFM. Cap, inviting the Mill Hill Missionaries working in Kenya, to come and help in his diocese. The bishop had offered the areas of Garsen (Tana River County) and Lamu (Lamu
County) which are about 120km apart.
This request was accepted by the Mill Hill Kenya Society Council which met in Nairobi from 5 to 6 the February 1991 after Frs. Alfons Geerts MHM and Mick Smyth MHM had reconnoitered this area and presented their report at that Council meeting. Four volunteers were then requested for this mission by the Council.Br. Franz Bischof, Frs. Albert Buijs, Jan van Dyk and Cornelius Schilder decided to embark on this mission. So in 1992 Fr. Jan van Dyk took up residence in the Island of Lamu and on the 6th of January 1992 Br. Franz and Fr Albert moved to Garsen and later to Tarasaa. When Fr. Schilder came to Tarasaa in 1993, Fr. Albert moved to Lamu.
After a short while, the bishop asked Fr. Albert to start a mission in Witu on the land the diocese had bought the year before courtesy of. Fr. Francis Baldachino OFM. Cap (Then he was Parish Priest of Mpeketoni. He later became the first bishop of Malindi Diocese in the year 2000). Now Fr. Albert couldn’t stay in Witu because of the ‘Shifta’ (a group of very dangerous armed robbers) who were terrorizing the area at that time. He then settled in Kipini which is approximately 21km South of Witu. When Fr. Albert arrived in Kipini, he acquired a small hut made from corrugated iron sheets which he placed in the
Kenya Wildlife Services (KWS) compound. He lived in it for four years. Later when seminarians were sent for pastoral experience, this hut became too small so he rented a bigger house with a thatched roof just next to the big mosque in Kipini. This house became the parish house and office till 2003. In 2001, Fr. Albert succeeded to acquire a small plot next to Kipini Primary School. This land now contains some five rental rooms. For ten years, the few Catholics of Kipini village and immediate environs, used as a place for worship, a small old dilapidated building which was used by the colonial government as an arsenal.
During that period, evangelization extended to the farmers within and without the new Witu settlement scheme, most of which belonged to Kipini Division. In this settlement scheme, the Catholics and those willing to become Catholics started meeting in the home of one of the Catholics for prayers on Sundays. Their first meeting place was in Laiga near Kipini. Other communities were formed in Chumvi, Mbwageni and Kizuiliani. Meanwhile, Fr. Albert did not only concentrate in Kipini area. He extended his mission to Witu in Lamu County and started a small Christian Community in Soroko and then Witu itself which used to meet every Sunday at Witu Secondary School for Mass.
Later on, small grass-roofed structures were constructed in some areas like Gatundu, Laiga and Soroko. Subsequently, with the assistance of Fr. Albert, they acquired readymade round structured corrugated iron sheet huts as their houses of worship in the areas of Chumvi, Kizuiliani Mbwageni and Witu. In October 2001, Fr. Albert was transferred to Malindi and Fr. Adolf Poell MHM took over to continue the work of evangelization. He lived and worked from Kipini for two years and in March 2003, he permanently moved to Witu to that piece of land acquired way back in 1992 by Fr. Francis. When the parish house in Witu was blessed on the 8th of March 2003 by the Bishop of Malindi Diocese, Francis Baldachino OFM. Cap, the mission stations of Moa and Katsakakairo (then belonging to Wema Parish) were handed Over to Witu-Kipini parish because of their proximity to Witu. A month earlier, i.e. in February2003, Fr Adolf Poell bought a much bigger piece of land in Kipini, not far from the one Fr.Albert bought. It is on this land that the Kipini church and Presbytery now stand.
As years went by, there was tremendous growth in the Church in Witu/Kipini parish, both spiritual and physical growth. The number of Christians increased. Fr. Felt the need to request for more members to join him in the areas. There was a steady flow of Mill Hill students in formation going to Witu/Kipini parish for Mission Experience Programme (MEP) every two year.
The diocese also sent Seminarians in formation for experience every time was one available. Mean while in 2005, the Franciscan Missionaries of St. Joseph also called Mill Hill Sisters also sent a team of four sisters to start a community in Witu centre where Fr Adolf had constructed a convent. Gradually both the Diocese and the Mill Hill Society started sending Priests to join Fr Adolf poll to form a team to work in the parish. For the time Fr Adolf Poll worked in Witu as the second parish priest, the following priest worked with him as his assistants:
Fr Mario Dimapilis MHM, Fr. Constantine Kimondo of Malindi Diocese, Fr. Innocent Wefon MHM, Fr. Anthony Emeka O. MHM, Fr Cyprian Ta-ah MHM, Fr. Alexander Kimbi MHM and Fr. Ananth Nayak MHM. Within a period of 20 year up to 2021, the parish experience tremendous growth both spiritually and developmentally.
In 2021, the two centers of Witu and Kipini had grown into 2 pastoral zones with Witu zone comprising of the following Mission stations: Witu (where the parish church and presbytery are found), Soroko, Chakamba, Katsakakairo, Moa, Kakathe, Vatican and Tangeni and Maisha Masha. Kipini zone also comprises of Kipini (also has a parish house), Kizuiliani, Shauri Moyo, Gatundu, Kaloleni, Chumvi and Jericho.
Amongst the Students who came to Witu and Kipini Parish for Mission experience was Alexander Kimbi who came in 2014 and completed his mission experience in 2016. Years letter, the former student now FR. Alexander Kimbi returned to Witu Kipini/parish for his first priestly assignment as an assistant priest to his former supervisor. From all indications, they had worked well together that when the young priest returned, Fr. Adolf Poll started preparing him to take full responsibility of the parish. On the 23th of May 2021, Fr. Adolf handed over the parish to the 3rd parish priest of Witu/Kipini parish Fr. Alexander Kimbi MHM and his assistant Fr. Ananth Nayak MHM from India.
Within the first month in his capacity as parish priest, Fr. Alex Kimbi initiated the formation of committees that could oversee different aspects of the pastoral programs in the parish. It is from this that the Development committee was charged with the task of developing a strategic plan to help the parish focus it pastoral activities.
Administrative and Geographic Location of Witu/Kipini Parish
Witu/Kipini parish, which is made of up two zones i.e. Witu and Kipini zones, is situated in two administrative Counties: Witu, found in Lamu West County, Lamu County, Coast Region, Kenya, is about 150km from Malindi town along the road to Lamu. Witu itself is 67km from Lamu Island. Kipini, found in Tana River County, Coast Region, is some 21km south of Witu. Kipini village itself is a small Swahili village with a rich long history. In the past, i.e. during the Colonial period, Kipini was the headquarters of the Tana River District with a resident District Commissioner. Worthy of note is the fact that it is in Kipini that the River Tana empties itself into the Indian Ocean.
INSTITUTIONAL ANALYSIS
1.2 Achievements of the parish.
When the first Parish priest Fr. Albert Buijs arrived in Kipini in the late 90s, there were little or no Catholic Church activities going on. There were few Christians and little property for the church in both Witu and Kipini areas. Since inception and up to the time of this First official strategic plan, Witu/Kipini Parish has made great strides in physical, social and spiritual development.
Physical Development
The list below summaries the most visible accomplishment
Witu Zone
- Witu (Parish Centre)
There is a permanent structure for the Church though with little capacity,
ü A Multi-purpose hall with a second floor having rooms for side meetings,
ü A sisters’ convent for Franciscan Missionaries of St. Joseph, A nursery school with two blocks (Amani Catholic Academy),
ü A girls’ hostel with accommodation of up to 80 students, 1st Parish house with accommodation for gusts, 2nd Parish house with apartments for 2 priests, 3rd Parish House is a block for Seminarians on Mission experience,
ü A Parish office block.
ü A primary school for the sisters, located on the opposite side of the Road with 3 blocks and a staff living block.
Moa Mission Station
Permanent Church Building,
a presbytery of 4 room which needs renovation
3 Small Christian Communities (Jumuiya)
Katsakakairu Mission Station
Permanent Church Building.
3 Small Christian Communities
Vatican Mission Station
Temporal Church building,
2 Small Christian Communities
Kakathe Mission Station
Temporal Church Building
1 Small Christian Community
Tangeni Mission Station
Temporal Church Building
1 Small Christian Community
Maisha Masha Mission Station
Temporal Church Building.
1 Small Christian Community
Chakamba Mission Station
Temporal Church Building,
Rental house with
1 Small Christian Community.
Soroko Mission Station
Temporal Church Building
2 Small Christian Communities
Kipini Zone.
Kipini. Centre Station
A permanent Church Building,
A presbytery
Rental house with 5 self-contain rooms
Kizuliani
Temporal church building
Shauri Moyo
Temporal Church Building,
A primary School with all temporal structures.
Jeriko
Temporal Church Building.
Gatundu
Permanent Church Building
A Semi permanent hall structure
Kaloleni
Permanent Church Building
Chumvi
Semi-Permanent Church Building.