The Rendille live in the Kaisut Desert east of Lake Turkana, northern Kenya as semi-nomadic pastoralists. There are two distinctive groups: the northern Rendille, who herd camels, and the southern Rendille who herd cattle and are related to the Samburu with whom they intermarry. They live in ‘manyattas’ or homesteads of 70-100 houses, dress in bright colours and wear beads. The men undergo various rites of passage to bring them into adulthood; young girls are often spoken for at an early age and marry very young.
Despite being the biggest county in Kenya, Marsabit County currently has no Bible training facilities. The local church has requested that someone come and set up a Bible training college, which will serve the many different people groups in the area.
Last August, the Rendille celebrated the dedication of the New Testament that had just been completed in their heart language.
Peter & Katy Wilson both work at Titchie Swot, Rift Valley Academy’s Elementary School in Kenya. They tell us about the different challenges and encouragements they see in the Kenyan Church.
In 1981 Nick & Lynne Swanepoel moved to Korr, northern Kenya, originally to translate the Bible for the unreached Rendille people. Now, having returned to South Africa, they look back over the 33 years they spent there.
The Rendille live in the Kaisut Desert east of Lake Turkana, northern Kenya as semi-nomadic pastoralists.
Floss Hall is a nineteen year old student, currently studying theology at London School of Theology, who spent five weeks of her summer living among the Rendille people in Korr, Kenya. Floss had previously been on a short term mission to Tanzania with her home church where she developed her passion for mission and Africa. We asked her some questions about her experience.
