Between Kinship and Individualism: Reimagining Communality inKenyatta University Christian Union

Abstract

This study examines how communality is being reimagined within university Christian student organizations, focusing on the Kenyatta University Christian Union (KUCU). Against the backdrop of rapid technological change and shifting generational values, it explores how KUCU navigates the tension between traditional African communal philosophies and contemporary individualism. Historically, African societies fostered deep daily connections rooted in shared language, culture, and religion. In contrast, KUCU operates within a diverse academic environment, where students differ in ethnicity, faith, and discipline. Using Optimal Distinctiveness Theory (ODT), which balances the human need for belonging and uniqueness, the study investigates KUCU’s strategies for cultivating solidarity and inclusion. Employing ethnographic methods, including interviews, observations, and focus groups, it addresses three core questions: How does KUCU foster communality? What integrative practices support its diverse membership? And how does it draw from African communal traditions? The findings argue that communality within KUCU is dynamic and adaptive, reflecting a postmodern model of integration where individuality and collective identity are continuously negotiated