The Impact of “Kekweimet” on Christian Beliefs and Practices Among the Keiyo Community of Kenya

Abstract

African religious practice constitutes an important component of the social and religious makeup and the cycle of harmony in the community. Despite the introduction of Christianity, most African communities have sustained cultural practices, some of which contrast with Christian beliefs. The main aim of this research was to evaluate the persistence of the cleansing ritual of Kekweimet among the Keiyo people of Kenya. This inquiry also sought to understand the social and religious implications of this cleansing ritual on the Keiyo Christians. A qualitative ethnographic approach was used for the study with a target sample size of 95 participants in Kapkei village on the Keiyo Border. Interviews and focus group discussions were used to collect data and a thematic strategy was adopted for data analysis. The findings of the study revealed that Kekweimet was an important collective cleansing ritual still practiced by Keiyo Christians. The ritual process was meant to cleanse, remove bitterness in the grieving family, and repair the relationship between the clan of the deceased and the one who had committed murder. From the setting, there was a strong interaction between the Keiyo Christians and the cleansing ritual because of the involvement of church elders and the use of Christian-based prayer. The researcher determined that despite the constructive outcomes of Kekweimet the practice among Keiyo Christians surmounted syncretism and risked leading the faithful away from the Christian Faith.