The Anglican Church of Kenya yesterday ordained the first woman archdeacon in 150 years.
The Rev Jane Karimi Njiru, 43, was ordained archdeacon in a colourful ceremony at St Andrew's Church presided over by Bishop Moses Njue of Embu Diocese.
She was until yesterday a deaconess. The Rev Njiru will be in-charge of nine parishes in Embu Cathedral Archdeaconary. The move was praised as a major step towards entrenching gender equity in the church.
Bishop Njue said the Rev Njiru's promotion had been recommended by the standing committee of the diocesan synod and supported by the full synod.
He said she had actively contributed to the growth of the church both religiously and administratively.
The Rev Njiru started serving the church in 1979 as an ordinary evangelist. She has since served as a priest and a rural dean. She is married with three children.
Bishop Njue said the church has realised the role of women in spreading the gospel and would continue appointing them to senior positions.
The Rev Njiru said she will uphold the challenges of the new position. She said her ordination was a major achievement for women in the church.
The ceremony was also attended by Manyatta MP Njeru Ndwiga.