The Life of Meshack Mūrage Kamwaro

Bwana Meshack with his Shepherd’s Stuff and a Bible

Meshack Mūrage Kamwaro was born in 1882 in Giaituu Village in Mathīra West area. When a Mission was established in Tūmūtūmū in 1908, he joined as a young man and began literacy education. Meshack’s mother was greatly opposed to the son’s decision to the extent of her attempting to murder the Mūrage. The knife that was to be used has been preserved at the Museum of the Church of Scotland.

Meshack was baptized on Christmas Day of 1914 and later confirmed in September of 1915. Five years later on 9th September 1920, Meshack married a young woman in the name of Sophia Gachambi, who was later called to be with the Lord after a decade in 1930. Rev. Meshack later married his wife Julia Mūrugi on 20th January 1931.

Mūrage was ordained Church Elder in 1922. In the different places he worked as a Clerk, including Kirengeti, Nairobi, Rūirū and Nyeri, he showed great Christian maturity and attracted many people to the Christian faith.

In 1927, Meshack began practicing as a teacher and taught in Kīamwangi, Tūmūtūmū and even Thogoto in Kikuyu.

Later on, Meshack Mūrage began working in the Church as a preacher. He recalled how the Church had great financial constraints in the payment of Cess. In 1934 he offered to give Ksh 700 to the Church to meet the cess obligations of the congregation. The following year, 1935, he served the entire year without any salary. The generosity of Bwana Meshack and his insights were of great benefit to the Church, so much so that in 1938 he was a representative at the International Missionary Council Meeting of 1938 in Madras, India.

Meshack Mūrage Kamwaro was licenced to preach in 1941, and was ordained in 1942. After his ordination to the Ministry of the Word, Sacrament and Order, the Church sent him to different places including- Kīganjo, Nanyuki, Magutu, Subukia, and Bahati in Nairobi. He also served in Kangaita and Tetū Parishes in the Tūmūtūmū Presbytery. Rev. Meshack retired from active service in 1965 at the age of 83 years.

In his retirement, Rev. Mūrage wa Kamwaro continued to be of great service to God in unique ways. He visited schools, conducted pastoral visits in people’s homes and Parishes, preaching in conventions, and this brought great glory to God.

There is a story that is well known concerning Rev. Meshack Mūrage when he was the acting Parish Minister at Mathaithi when the Minister was on study leave abroad. Meshack and Julia his wife had been involved in a road traffic accident warranting admission at Tūmūtūmū Hospital. A Kirk Session meeting had been scheduled on a day that Rev. Meshack was still admitted. He requested the attending Doctor to allow him to go to Mathaithi and Moderate the Session so that the meeting would not be postponed. The request was granted. He moderated the session and went back to hospital in a great show of incomparable dedication to the service of God and his Church. Meshack’s dedication and generosity of his property, walking for long distances even in rainy seasons, his zeal in farming and speaking to young people is a legacy that will forever be remembered.

The Presbyterian Church has had different servants with peculiar gifting, yet, Rev. Meshack Mūrage Kamwaro was uniquely gifted in his knowledge of the entire Bible. He had great mastery of both Testaments in English, Gīkūyū and Kiswahili. The family of Meshack was filled with joy and people of different ages were well familiar with Julia Mūrugi and Mūrage wa Kamwaro. Meshack was a man full of faith and love for God. His testimony was known to all people that knew him.

Rev. Mūrage fell ill in 1979 and received treatment at Nairobi Hospital, Mount Kenya Hospital and Tūmūtūmū Mission Hospital.

He was promoted to glory on 21st October 1985 at a ripe age of 103 years.

He left behind a great legacy of faith, survived by his loving wife Julia, alongside his three daughters and two sons, Doris Wanjīra, Lois Wairimū, Simon Gachari, Peter Kamwaro, Ruth Wanjīra and Lydia Wangū, with their children and grandchildren.

May the name of the Lord be praised for his grace, for he gave the Reverend Meshack Mūrage Kamwaro and called him to rest, and more, the memory of the righteous is blessed! There stands in his legacy to Churches that are in Memory of him, PCEA Kamwaro in Tetū and another in Mathīra of Nyeri County.

(Adapted and Translated from Meshack’s Eulogy with minimal additions).