By Timothy Wekesa
BUNGOMA, Kenya (IP)
As the sun rises over the hills of western Kenya this week, Bungoma is marking a bittersweet milestone: 100 years since its establishment as a district by the colonial government in 1925.
There are no grand celebrations. Instead, a somber reflection on what local leaders call a “lost century” has taken hold, driven by a coalition of religious leaders calling for a spiritual and economic rebirth they have dubbed a “divine reset.”
Once known as the green jewel of Kenya’s economy, Bungoma enters its second century weighed down by the decline of industries that once defined its identity.
In response, clergy from several Christian denominations have organized a large-scale prayer and cleansing mission aimed at restoring the county’s fortunes.
From giants to ghost towns
A century ago, Bungoma stood as a model of agrarian and industrial success. The county produced prominent national figures such as Masinde Muliro and Pascal Nabwana, whose influence reached the corridors of power in Nairobi.
Its industries anchored the regional economy. Smoke billowing from Webuye Pan Paper Mills signaled prosperity, while British American Tobacco, Mastermind Tobacco and the vast Nzoia Sugar Company sustained tens of thousands of households.
Today, the smokestacks are silent. Rusting machinery and shuttered factories have given way to widespread unemployment and economic uncertainty.
“We cannot enter the next hundred years carrying the failures of the last few decades,” said Bishop Johnstone Kisawai of Agape Christian Liberation Ministries.
“The dignity of the Bungoma family has been eroded by poverty. It is time for a spiritual and physical audit.”
A coalition for restoration
The prayer movement has quickly gained momentum, uniting clerics from different ministries and churches.
Among those leading the initiative are:
Bishop Johnstone Kisawai, Agape Christian Liberation Ministries
Fredrick Ogara, End Time Harvest and Discipleship Churches
Ignitius Wanjala, Revival Prophetic Living Ministry
Albert Siranjofu, Integrity Power of Christ Ministries
The leaders say the “centenary cleansing” is about more than prayer.
They have outlined a six-point agenda they believe should guide Bungoma’s next century.
The priorities include reviving collapsed industries and attracting new investors, restoring integrity and visionary leadership, improving educational standards, empowering farmers beyond subsistence livelihoods, rebuilding family dignity damaged by long-term hardship, and re-anchoring development in Christian values.
The dawn of a new century
Across the county, the mood is one of cautious hope. For many residents, the 100-year mark is a moment of reckoning rather than celebration.
“When Pan Paper died, a part of Webuye died with it,” said a local trader. “But seeing church leaders come together gives us hope that maybe our leaders will wake up, and the next hundred years won’t look like the last twenty.”
As prayers begin, the clergy’s message is blunt: Bungoma’s first century was shaped by colonial foundations and industrial rise. Its second, they say, must be defined by local restoration, accountability and a return to shared prosperity.
