More than a century ago, Aim’s founder Peter Cameron Scott established a mission station among the Wakamba tribe at a location known as Nzawi. There, in those early years, Peter Muthusi Mwaka’s grandfather, Isaac Mailu Ndoro, came to know the Lord, thus establishing a spiritual heritage for his children and grandchildren to follow. Isaac learned to read while serving in World War I and later worked for the colonial government. His spiritual life was such that when he returned to the British Army again in World War II, he was called “the man of God” by his fellow soldiers. After the war he went on to Bible school and ultimately planted one of the first churches for the Africa Inland Church.

I hope to go to a place in rural Kenya where the needs are great and there are so few doctors to help them.” 

After the war, Peter Mwaka’s father was born into the Ndoro household and, as he grew, continued in that spiritual heritage. He became prominent not only in his church, but in the community. He was a gifted musician, a headmaster, politician, and an active leader in the Africa Inland Church at Nzawi.

Peter Muthusi Mwaka attempted to follow in his father’s and grandfather’s footsteps. He did it by studying hard, living a good life, and attending church. After Secondary School his excellent grades ushered him into the coveted medical school at the University of Nairobi. He still remembers the day he left for university in 1990. His mother said, “You are going to university, you are now a man. Now you must decide what kind of man you will be – will you be a godly man, or a worldly man?”

SLIDING It was during his first year at university that he attended a church service where the minister said, “Some of you here tonight have just ‘slid’ into Christianity. But now you must make a decision and make your own commitment to Christ.” Peter realized he had, indeed, simply ‘slid’ into the Christian life without making a real commitment. That night as he prayed he felt the Holy Spirit change him, and he determined in his heart to serve the Lord. Now he was ready to establish his own spiritual heritage through medicine.

He started this journey at the AIC Kijabe Hospital for his internship training. Then, when an opportunity opened to join the staff at the AIC Githumu Hospital, a small, rural hospital ministering to the poor, he joyfully accepted the challenge knowing he would be working and learning alongside a seasoned missionary doctor. But when that doctor had to suddenly leave, Peter had to persevere alone at the hospital.

During this time he realised his skills were not up to the challenges he faced. He needed further training. Should he try going overseas? He was not overly enthused with this idea because he wanted his training to be relevant to rural Kenya. It was then that he heard that the long struggle to establish family medicine training in Kenya had finally been successful. He inquired, and in 2005, became one of the first three family medicine registrars to begin training in the new Moi University Family Medicine training programme.Peter is now based at Kijabe and in the second year of training. He expects to finish the program at the end of 2008. “Then,” he said, “I hope to go to a place in rural Kenya where the needs are great and there are so few doctors to help them.”

Peter Muthusi Mwaka is one in a long line of faithful men whose godly heritage dates back to 1895. It is such faithful men – Kenyans and Westerners – that make a difference in this world for Christ and his kingdom. We at Kijabe Hospital are privileged to teach him for a brief while, and privileged to learn from him.

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