Rabai Museum, Historical museum in Rabai, Kenya
Rabai Museum occupies Kenya's first Christian church building and contains objects, documents, and photographs from missionary work and local heritage. The collections show how faith and formal education arrived and shaped the community over time.
A missionary named Johann Ludwig Krapf established a mission station in Rabai in 1844, introducing organized Christian education to Kenya. This marked a turning point when formal learning and new ideas reached this part of the coast.
The exhibits showcase how the Mijikenda community dressed and lived through everyday objects on display. You can see tools and textiles that reveal the practical skills and traditions that shaped daily life in this region.
The museum sits roughly 40 km northwest of Mombasa and is reachable from the main highway heading toward the city. Plan enough time to walk through the displays and read the information on each item.
The cottages where missionaries lived were converted into a research center that preserves spaces from that period. These buildings offer a glimpse into how religious workers lived and worked in a new land.
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