SPOTLIGHT: The Jewish Community in Kasuku, Kenya
Photo Credit: Kehillat Israel Kenya
Situated in the Kenyan highlands at an elevation of approximately 8,000 feet above sea level, there exists a quiet Jewish community that has been established for over 20 years. The Kasuku Jewish community is located near the town of Naharuru, adjacent to one side of the great rift valley. The community is located approximately six and a half hours’ drive westward from the Malaba crossing into Uganda, covering a distance of about 341 kilometers.
The Ol-Kalau Jewish congregation, commonly referred to as Kehillat Israel Kenya has transformed greatly over the years into a vibrant community from its early beginnings. Today, they have a stunning synagogue and a new building which comprises a kosher kitchen and a social hall, and they recently received a donation of a Sefer Torah. The founding fathers, as is common in many African communities, initially began as a messianic congregation. After Yosef Ben Avraham Njogu and elder Avraham Ndungu Mbugua visited the Nairobi Hebrew Congregation, a 100-year-old Jewish synagogue, they departed from the messianic movement to embark on their journey in the path of Judaism.
Yehuda Kimani, the eldest of Njogu’s 13 children, now carries the responsibility of leading the Kehillat Israel Kenya congregation. He was one of the young children who studied at the Jewish school in Uganda. While in Uganda, he also studied under Rabbi Gershom Sizomu, who, in 2006, facilitated the conversion of the majority of the Kenyan Jewish community with assistance from a beit din in the United States. Recently, the community has expanded through new births and converts, now exceeding a hundred members. Meanwhile, their relationship with the Jews in Uganda has continued to thrive, even resulting in intermarriages. Samson, a brother of Yehuda, is married to a Ugandan woman strengthen the bonds between the two countries. Similar to his brother, Yehuda attributes his leadership training to Ugandan Jews, having spent considerable time learning from various Abayudaya Jewish communities in Nangolo, Putti, and Nabugoye. He attended Semei Kakungulu High School before returning to Kenya to lead Kehillat Israel, a position he holds to this day.
The community has experienced significant growth, bolstered by the support of various Jewish organizations both within Africa and beyond. Their aspirations include the large-scale development of agriculture, aimed at strengthening the economy and achieving self-sufficiency. Their aim is to establish connections with Jewish communities throughout the continent, focusing primarily on the exchange of knowledge and resources. They aim to establish a Jewish tourism venture that not only generates revenue for the community but also provides tourists with an exceptional safari experience. This initiative is supported by their strategic location, which is in proximity to the equator, near Lake Naivasha, known for its abundant hippos, and the stunning Great Rift Valley.
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