When Chris was in high school in Western Kenya, a teacher who had been discipled by the Navigators exposed him to the Scriptures. Chris admired how this teacher lived — but did not come to faith at that point.
In 1990, during his first year at the University of Nairobi studying Veterinary Medicine, a fellow student led Chris to Christ. He called his high school teacher to share the news, and the teacher encouraged him to write to the Navigators in Nairobi to connect with someone who could disciple him.
Chris connected with Paul Kimani, who began discipling him one-on-one alongside David Thiga, Charles Kairu, and Benson Macharia throughout his five pre-clinical years at Chiromo Campus — and continued during his clinical years at Upper Kabete. The friendship with these men has endured to this day.
The Question He Couldn’t Shake
After campus, Chris was invited to go to Tanzania for a Short Term Experience in Ministry (STEM), working among high school students before they entered university. On returning, Dennis Tongoi invited him to join staff training. But Chris had not imagined himself in full-time ministry early on. His plan was to work as a veterinarian and support ministry workers from the marketplace. The Navigators and two other ministries invited him to join staff training — and he turned them all down.
While working in Wamba, Samburu County, Chris noticed a lack of discipleship among students in the area. Then a quote from a Navigator leader lodged in his mind: “Don’t spend time doing what other people can and should be doing, at the expense of what you alone can do.” He realised that his colleagues were capable of handling veterinary work — but he was uniquely equipped to advance the Gospel through intentional discipleship. After wrestling with this, he joined Navigators staff training.
Machakos, and the Mantle
Chris did his Disciple Maker Leadership Training (DMLT) in Machakos under Adams and Sarah Mutonga. He met Anne while serving there — she was working at Machakos Level 5 Hospital — and they married on 14 December 2002.
When the Mutongas transitioned to Tanzania, Chris and Anne were asked to lead the Machakos ministry. Considering the scope of work, Chris invited Victor Kilwake and Alex Kiamba for staff training, joined by Naftali Oswago from Kisumu. He had previously taken Jeremiah Kitheka and Daniel Wambua through STEM training, and later trained Cornelius Muatha and Justus Makau — all of whom went on to serve in significant ministry roles.
In 2007, the Amulos were invited to move to Nairobi to lead the National Student Ministry and coordinate staff training. One highlight during this period was the unity God gave the student ministry team as the work grew across Kenya.
A Decade of National Leadership
In 2015, Chris and Anne were selected to lead The Navigators Kenya. In the first five years, the leadership team focused on deepening the prayer life of the ministry — believing that a vital movement of the Gospel must be fuelled by prevailing prayer. The prayer ministry, led by Joseph and Beulah Mucharie, helped revive a culture of prayer across the national work.
The leadership also established a revolving housing fund for field ministry partners and set up an endowment fund for long-term sustainability. The Emerging Leaders Forum, launched in 2019, helped identify and equip a rising generation for greater responsibility.
Halfway through their second term, the Africa Regional Director and the Kenya Board were approached with a request for Chris to transition to the Africa Regional Team. He now oversees countries with Navigators ministry presence of over 40 years — including Kenya.
Chris grounds his leadership in 1 Corinthians 3:10–11: “By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it… For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.” His prayer remains that Christ be central in all they do — because if they build on any other foundation, they build nothing.