MUNYOYAYA

"The Munyoyaya tell a story of Boru Rooba, their leader by divine appointment, who predicted the coming of a flying canoe (aeroplane) and a canoe moving very fast on the ground (motor vehicle). He also predicted droughts and floods with exceptional insight. The Munyoyaya believe that they are well known to all people groups even though very few Kenyans have ever head of them.

They are a small people group, closely knit, living in Tana River district, north of Coast province. They claim to have come from Ethiopia, migrating southward and settling at their present home. They are a Cushite people speaking the same language as the Ormas. Unlike most Cushitic people, they practice subsistence farming on the flood plains of the Tana River growing mainly corn and bananas and occasionally fishing. They also keep stock, though very minimally. They are a hospitable people, kind to strangers. They have very strong traditional beliefs and customs.

Today all Munyoyaya people claim to be Muslims. Their employment by Arabs, along with their interaction with their Somali neighbours, brought the change to Islam. The fact that many do not understand Islam makes them turn to their previous animistic practices to find solutions to life's problems.

The inaccessibility to this people could be a reason why they have had no Christian contact, but it is a fact that, thus far, they have had no Christian witness."

• Country: Kenya
• Percent Christian: 82.1%
• Percent Evangelical: 34%
• Population (Year): 30.8 million (1995)
• Major Religion: Christianity
• Openness to Missionaries: Open"

1. HAVE THEY HEARD THE GOSPEL?

Ratio of pastors/evangelists to population: (total pastors and evangelists-0)

Ratio of missionaries to population: 1 missionary for every 5,000 persons (total missionaries-3)

Who is Jesus Christ to them?

0% Believe Jesus is the Son of God and are nominally Christians
0% Believe in the Son of God and have accepted Him as their Saviour
100% Believe Jesus is a Prophet, Teacher, Good Man, but not God's Son
most% Believe in local, traditional religion rather than in Jesus
0% Believe Jesus is a myth
?% Have never heard his name

2. HAVE THEY RESPONDED TO THE GOSPEL?

There are no known believers.

3. DO THEY HAVE A CHURCH?

Ratio of churches to population: (total churches-0)
Total number of communities (cities, towns, villages): (number of communities unknown)
About 20% live in Garissa town.

4. DO THEY HAVE THE WORD OF GOD TRANSLATED INTO THEIR MOTHER TONGUE?

Munyoyaya speak Orma, but no scripture is published in Orma yet. Bible Translation and Literacy has a couple assigned to translate Orma, but they are still in the beginning stages and security in the Orma and Munyoyaya region is not good, so progress is extremely slow.

5. ANY HINDRANCES TO USE OF THE SCRIPTURE?

Literacy Rate: 10%
Lack of ability to read and disinterest in Christian material.

6. WHAT OTHER FORMS OF GOSPEL PRESENTATIONS ARE AVAILABLE?

Recordings: No
Literature: No
Films: No
Radio: No
Video: No
Audiovisual: No

7. ARE THEY RECEPTIVE TO CHANGE AND TO CHRISTIANITY?

They are indifferent, very slow to change.

8. IS OUTSIDE (CROSS-CULTURAL) ASSISTANCE REQUIRED FROM MISSIONARIES?

Definitely, yes! The three missionaries there now are just new and not nearly enough."