A history of Kapsowar Mission Hospital Elgeyo Marakwet County Kenya, 1934-2020

Abstract

Despite the significant role that Kapsowar Mission Hospital has in the health centre and especially in Elgeyo Marakwet and modernizing the area, little is known about its history. It is in this regard that this study examined the history of Kapsowar Mission Hospital and its outreach medical mission in Marakwet district. This was done through documenting the history of the institution since its inception in 1934. The study also focused on how the missionaries managed to win the hearts of Marakwet people who were deeply rooted in their traditional ways of treating the sick, especially by the use of herbs and made them embrace the modern health care. The main objective of this study was to examine the history of Kapsowar Mission Hospital from 1934 to 2020. The study applied Structural Functionalism Theory by Herbert Spencer. While Structural Functionalism sees society as a structure with interrelated parts designed to meet the biological and social needs of the individuals in that society. Hebert Spencer saw similarities between society and the human body; he argued that just as the various organs of the body work together to keep the body functioning, the various parts of society work together to keep society functioning. The theory showed how different institutions in Marakwet district worked closely towards uniting the people and hence developing the area, more specifically the missionaries and the locals. To achieve this, historical research design was used to evaluate and analyse data that was obtained from both primary and secondary sources. Primary data for this study was sought from the Kenya National Archives in Nairobi and Nakuru. This was complemented by data gathered through oral interviews with relevant informants living in Marakwet district. The informants were identified through purposive sampling. The informants who were be picked, comprised of residents who had information pertaining the history of the mission hospital, area administrators, doctors and nurses employed in the facility were also be included in the study. Secondary data was sought from the internet, Egerton University Library, British Institute of East Africa in Nairobi, the University of Nairobi Library, Macmillan Library in Nairobi and Kenya National Library Services. Three analytical frames were used to analyse the collected data. These included theoretical reflection, documentary review and content analysis. This analysis of the history of Kapsowar Mission Hospital as one of the missionary legacies in Marakwet district thus contributed to the body of knowledge as it added to written works on medical history in Kenya. The major finding of the study was that Kapsowar mission hospital was the reason for the growth of the town. This finding was important to policy makers in the health sector and urban developers at the county level.