‘Radical discipleship’: The public theology of archbishop David Mukuva Gitari towards democratisation of Kenya

Abstract

This article examines the remarkable prophetic witness of Archbishop David Mukuva Gitari, who played a pivotal role in Kenya’s struggle for democratic governance during the 1980s and 1990s. Gitari emerged as a guardian of democratic values, advocating for social justice both in words and actions. This article analyses Gitari’s public theology and its impact on his activism in the ongoing fight for democratisation in Kenya. It seeks to recover Gitari’s life story as one of the most distinguished Christian leaders of the 20th and 21st centuries. His leadership journey illustrates Africa’s wealth of talent and its ability to produce church leaders on par with figures such as Martin Luther, Dietrich Bonhoeffer and Sammy Kaffity, the former Bishop of Jerusalem and the Middle East. The article closely examines his contributions to Kenya’s social and political transformation, particularly within the Anglican Church. It is based on both primary and secondary sources, including ten in-depth oral interviews with knowledgeable individuals.
Contribution: This article explores Gitari’s public theology and its relevance to the church’s prophetic mission in addressing the global challenges of the 21st century.