30 Facts About Festo Olang'

Festo Olang' studied there for three years but found it quite a traumatic experience to be away from home, having to conform to the school regulations and dress code.

Olang's faith in Jesus Christ grew and was strengthened under his guidance and, like many of the 300 boys at the school, Olang' taught at Sunday schools in the area each Sunday, after learning how to give the lesson under Mr Francis's tutelage each week.

Festo Olang' taught Luhya speaking groups and was encouraged to plant trees around the village churches.

Festo Olang' was born at Ebusakami Esabalu village, Maseno, in south Bunyore, Kakamega District.

Festo Olang' spent his early years in Kano, Kisumu District, where he acquired fluency in Luo and Luhyia.

Festo Olang' entered Komulo Primary School, then called Komulo School, in 1925.

Festo Olang' still was influenced by Edward Carey Francis, the headmaster, who helped grow his Christian faith.

Festo Olang' spoke English fluently by his third year at the school.

Festo Olang' was the only Christian at his family at this point in time.

Festo Olang' moved to Alliance High School, in Kikuyu, in 1931, where he stayed until 1935, three years of this at secondary level and the remaining two in teacher training.

Festo Olang' returned to Maseno School, where he was a teacher for four years, until January 1940, when he moved to newly started Butere Girls School, by invitation.

Festo Olang' married a Christian woman, Eseri Twera, on 24 December 1937.

Festo Olang' decided to study to become an Anglican priest, joining St Paul's Divinity School, in Limuru, in January 1944.

Festo Olang' was ordained a deacon on December 9,1945.

Festo Olang' worked as a deacon at the Ramula pastorate, from 1946 to 1947, being able to baptize and confirm his own mother.

Festo Olang' returned to Limuru, expecting to complete his Theological training.

Festo Olang' was ordained a priest after his return to Kenya in 1950.

Festo Olang' became the principal of the newly started Maseno Bible School.

Shortly after the division of the province of East Africa in two new provinces, Kenya and Tanzania, Festo Olang' was chosen to be the first African archbishop of the Anglican Church of Kenya and bishop of Nairobi, with his enthronement taking place at the All Saints Cathedral, in Nairobi, on 3 August 1970, in a ceremony presided by Archbishop Leonard Beecher.

Festo Olang' would serve as bishop-in-ordinary for the Armed Forces of Kenya and would held an ecclesiastical court for the discipline of the Kenyan clergy.

Festo Olang' worked to strengthen relationships with other members of the worldwide Anglican Communion, visiting several countries on behalf of the Church of the Province of Kenya, such as Great Britain, Germany, Canada, United States and Australia.

Festo Olang' participated several times at Billy Graham's Evangelical Crusades.

Festo Olang' hosted the Anglican Consultative Council in Limuru, Kenya, in 1971.

Festo Olang' would organize the Pan-Christian African Assembly in Nairobi, in 1974, and a conference of Anglican bishops from several parts of the world in Trinity College, in Nairobi, in 1975.

Festo Olang' hosted the first meeting of African Anglican bishops, known as "African Lambeth", in 1977, which was the start of the Conference of Anglican Provinces in Africa ; Festo Olang' was the first chairman of the conference.

Festo Olang' was involved in several ecumenical meetings from the World Council of Churches, the All Africa Conference of Churches and the National Council of Churches of Kenya.

Festo Olang' was a prominent member of the East Africa revival movement.

Festo Olang' was the main responsible of many developmental projects in Kenya, including schools and hospitals.

Festo Olang' died after a heart attack on 3 February 2004, in Nairobi.

Festo Olang' preached peace, love, unity, and humility and hence was a great force in keeping the Anglican Church united during his tenure.