About NBCEA
Rooted in faith, shaped by holiness, sent to serve across the Africa East Field.
Our History
The Nazarene Bible College of East Africa (NBCEA) was established by the Church of the Nazarene Africa East Field in response to a growing need for trained, theologically grounded ministers across East Africa. From its earliest days, the college was envisioned as a centre of excellence for holiness-based theological education, equipping men and women to serve local congregations, plant churches, and lead communities in the transforming power of the gospel.
Situated in Rongai, Nairobi, Kenya, NBCEA has grown steadily over the years, expanding its academic programs, strengthening its faculty, and deepening its partnerships within the Church of the Nazarene global network. The college has consistently maintained its founding commitment to the Wesleyan-holiness tradition while adapting its curriculum to meet the evolving needs of ministry in the Africa East Field.
Today, NBCEA stands as a recognised institution of theological education, having achieved TVET CDACC validation and continuing to send graduates into pastoral, administrative, and outreach roles across Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, and beyond. The college remains firmly anchored in its identity as an institution of the Church of the Nazarene, shaped by its heritage and propelled by its mission.
Mission, Vision & Values
To make Christ-like disciples in the Africa East Field.
To be transformative training centers that produce leaders with Christ-like character.
Core Values
Transformation
We believe that genuine encounter with Christ produces lasting change - in individuals, families, churches, and communities. Our programs are designed to facilitate holistic transformation rooted in the Holy Spirit's work.
Discipleship
We are committed to forming Christ-like disciples who are grounded in Scripture, shaped by the Wesleyan-holiness tradition, and equipped to make disciples of others across the Africa East Field.
Missional
We exist to serve the mission of God in East Africa. Every course, every chapel service, and every community activity is oriented toward sending out ministers who are ready to engage the world with the gospel.
Principal's Message
Welcome to the Nazarene Bible College of East Africa. It is my privilege to serve as Principal of this remarkable institution, and to witness daily the transformation that takes place when men and women surrender their lives to the call of God and commit themselves to rigorous theological formation. NBCEA is more than a college — it is a community of faith, learning, and mission.
Our programs are designed not merely to impart knowledge, but to shape character. We believe that the most effective ministers are those who have been formed in the Wesleyan-holiness tradition — people who love God with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength, and who carry that love into every community they serve. At NBCEA, we are committed to producing graduates who are theologically sound, spiritually mature, and practically equipped for ministry in the Africa East Field.
I invite you to explore what NBCEA has to offer. Whether you are considering our Diploma in Chaplaincy, our Certificate in Christian Ministry, or our advanced TVET CDACC-accredited programs, you will find a faculty and community ready to walk with you on your journey. All our programs are delivered online, so wherever you are in East Africa, you can study without leaving your community. Come, and let us equip you for a lifetime of Christ-like service.
Rev. Richard Awanda
Principal, NBCEA
Administration & Faculty
Meet the dedicated team guiding NBCEA's academic and ministry formation programs.
Rev. Richard Awanda
Principal
Theology
Rev. Douglas Otiso
Registrar
Theology
Accreditation & Affiliation
NBCEA is committed to maintaining the highest standards of theological education. Our programs have been validated by the Technical and Vocational Education and Training Curriculum Development, Assessment and Certification Council (TVET CDACC), Kenya's national body for quality assurance in technical and vocational education. This accreditation affirms the academic rigour, relevance, and quality of our theological programs, and ensures that NBCEA qualifications are recognised across East Africa.
As an institution of the Church of the Nazarene Africa East Field, NBCEA operates within the global framework of Nazarene higher education. This affiliation connects our students and faculty to a worldwide network of theological institutions, resources, and ministry partnerships, enriching the academic and spiritual formation experience at NBCEA.
Our academic standing reflects our dual commitment: to meet the standards required by national accreditation bodies, and to uphold the theological integrity expected by the Church of the Nazarene. Students can be confident that an NBCEA qualification represents both academic excellence and faithful formation in the Wesleyan-holiness tradition.
Our Christian Identity
NBCEA is unapologetically a Christian institution, shaped by the Wesleyan-holiness theological tradition. This tradition, rooted in the teachings of John Wesley and carried forward by the Church of the Nazarene, holds that salvation is not merely a legal transaction but a transforming work of grace — one that begins with justification and continues in entire sanctification, the cleansing of the heart and the filling of the Holy Spirit.
At NBCEA, this theological heritage is not simply an academic subject — it is the animating spirit of the entire institution. Chapel services, community life, mentorship relationships, and academic study are all oriented toward the formation of holy men and women who love God and neighbour with their whole being. We believe that the pursuit of holiness is inseparable from the pursuit of justice, compassion, and faithful service to the world.
Our Christian identity also means that NBCEA is a place of welcome for all who are called to ministry. We draw students from across the Africa East Field — from Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, and beyond — united by a shared commitment to the gospel of Jesus Christ and the mission of the Church of the Nazarene. In this community, diversity is a gift, and the unity of the Spirit is our foundation.
The Wesleyan-holiness tradition calls us to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength - and to carry that love into every community we serve.