Elijah Khamala and his wife Sylvia serve in Kakamega, investing their lives in students, young leaders, and members of their local community. Their deep passion is to see men and women come to know Christ intimately and become thoroughly established in Him through intentional, life-on-life discipleship.
The rich story of their ministry began years before Elijah ever officially stepped into staff training.
A Ministry Born in Prayer
In 2009, Chris Amulo and a dedicated student ministry team visited Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology (MMUST). Together, they stood on campus and prayerfully claimed scriptural promises from Genesis 22:17–18, Matthew 9:35–38, and Isaiah 54:1–3, trusting God to establish a permanent Navigator ministry in Kakamega.
Around that very same time, Elijah was completing his studies as a student at MMUST. He had been discipled by Pastor Billy Oyugi of Dandora Baptist Church. When Billy learned about the strategic plans to anchor a ministry at the university, he immediately introduced Elijah to the pioneering effort.
Elijah was connected with Dr. Winston Wanjala, a Navigators Associate in Kakamega. Together with Emma Achieng and members of the God’s Manifestation (GM) Crew, they launched the foundational campus Bible studies in 2011.
The partnership with the GM Crew proved to be especially significant. Their shared enthusiasm and spiritual commitment injected vibrant energy into the work, transforming regular Bible studies into a natural part of the student community’s daily life.
Answering the Call
During an intensive discipleship training program known as Core Combat, Elijah sensed God directly challenging him to make his life available for full-time ministry among the lost. He shared this growing burden with Tom Owuor, who wisely encouraged him to complete his academic studies while continuing to actively pray and seek God’s timing.
Following graduation, Elijah formally joined the Disciple Maker Leadership Training (DMLT) track under Tom’s supervision in Eldoret. Throughout his training years, he spent his weekends traveling back and forth to Kakamega to disciple students and stabilize the growing ministry.
When his training concluded, Navigator leadership invited him to consider making a permanent move back to Kakamega as a Gift Income Person. Elijah accepted the call and relocated in 2016. Vincent Abwao, whom Elijah had been discipling, later joined him on the ground to complete his own training and further strengthen the local base.
Building for the Next Generation
Sylvia joined Elijah in Kakamega following their marriage in 2021. Having been deeply discipled herself through the Navigators ministry in Eldoret, she stepped in as an essential partner in anchoring the expanding work.
God has continued to open new doors beyond MMUST. Today, the local ministry has multiplied to encompass:
- Students at Sigalagala National Polytechnic
- The Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC) community
- Local high schools and a growing Core Group marketplace ministry
Looking back across their journey, Elijah frequently reflects on a lesson that has been reinforced through every milestone: great things happen when God’s people pray.
The Khamalas continue to trust God for more local laborers and for the full expression of Isaiah 54:1–3 as the movement flourishes across Western Kenya.