When Chris was in high school in Western Kenya, a teacher who had been discipled by the Navigators first exposed him to the Scriptures. Chris deeply admired how this teacher lived—though he did not come to faith at that specific point.
The turning point came in 1990. During his first year at the University of Nairobi studying Veterinary Medicine, a fellow student led Chris to Christ. He immediately 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 was soon 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—a foundational journey that continued during his clinical years at Upper Kabete. The brotherhood and friendship forged 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. Upon returning, Dennis Tongoi invited him to join full-time 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 financially from the marketplace. In fact, The Navigators and two other ministries invited him to join staff training—and he turned them all down.
However, while working in Wamba, Samburu County, Chris noticed a severe lack of discipleship among students in the area. It was during this time that a quote from a Navigator leader lodged deeply 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 realized that while his colleagues were fully capable of handling veterinary work, he was uniquely equipped to advance the Gospel through intentional discipleship. After wrestling with this realization, he stepped away from his veterinary career and joined Navigators staff training.
Machakos, and the Mantle
Chris completed 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 take up the mantle and lead the Machakos ministry. Recognizing the massive scope of the work, Chris proactively invited Victor Kilwake and Alex Kiamba into staff training, later 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 regional ministry roles.
In 2007, the Amulos were invited to move to Nairobi to lead the National Student Ministry and coordinate staff training. A key highlight during this period was the remarkable unity God gave the student ministry team as the work grew across campuses throughout Kenya.
A Decade of National Leadership
In 2015, Chris and Anne were selected to lead The Navigators Kenya. In their 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 fueled by prevailing prayer. This prayer focus, led by Joseph and Beulah Mucharie, successfully revived a culture of deep prayer across the national work.
Under their stewardship, the leadership also established a revolving housing fund for field ministry partners and set up an endowment fund for long-term financial sustainability. The Emerging Leaders Forum, launched in 2019, helped identify and equip a rising generation for greater responsibility.
Halfway through their second term, Chris was asked to transition to the Africa Regional Team. He now oversees countries with an established Navigators presence of over 40 years—including Kenya.
The Foundation of Leadership:
“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.” — 1 Corinthians 3:10–11