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Hazel Ong'ayo Ayanga
Born	10 January 1952
Nationality	Kenyan
Occupation	Professor of Religious Studies
Academic background
Alma mater	Moi University
Academic work
Discipline	African Theology
Sub-discipline	Feminist Theology
School or tradition	Anglican
Institutions	Professor of Religious Studies, Moi University
Main interests	Care and empowerment of orphans, vulnerable children and women affected by HIV/AIDS

Hazel Ong'ayo Ayanga (born 10 January 1952) is a Kenyan female theologian known for her work on the care and empowerment of orphans, vulnerable children and women affected by HIV/AIDS. She is an Associate Professor of Religious Studies at Moi University, Kenya. She researches spirituality in clinical settings, religion and change in Africa and the centrality of ritual in human life.

Early life and education

Hazel Ayanga was born on 10 January 1952 to John Ayanga and Rita Ayanga, both members of the clergy, at the village of Luanda, in Vihiga County, Kenya. She is a member of the Anglican Church of Kenya.

Ayanga earned Bachelor's and Master's of Arts degrees from the University of Nairobi and attained her Doctor of Philosophy degree in Religious Studies at Moi University. Her post-doctoral studies was at Yale University. Her areas of research are on the care and empowerment of orphans, vulnerable children and women affected by HIV and AIDS, spirituality in clinical settings, religion and change in Africa and the centrality of ritual in human life.

Career

Ayanga started her career as a senior librarian at Kenya National Library Services in Nairobi from 1975 to 1983. She then joined Kenyatta University as an assistant librarian in 1987. She was later employed by Moi University in Kenya in 1989 as a tutorial fellow in the department of religion and was promoted as an associate professor of Religious Studies in the department of Philosophy, Religion and Theology in 2009. She has taught many courses at the university such as: Women and Religion, Religion and Society and Emerging Theologies, among others.

Awards

Ayanga was awarded a Research Fellowship (African Christianity project) by the Centre for the Study of Christianity in the Non-Western World (currently The Centre for the Study of World Christianity), School of Divinity, University of Edinburgh in 1996. She won a Course Competition Award from the Centre for Theology and Natural Sciences (CTNS) in Berkeley, California in 2003 and the Indiana University Health and Values grant in 2019.

Leadership

Ayanga was the head of the department of Philosophy, Religion and Theology in Moi University and the chairperson of the board of National Chaplaincy Training Centre (NCTC) housed in the same department between 2003 and 2005. She has been an external examiner at several universities among them; the University of Nairobi (2004 to 2005), Kenyatta University (2010 to 2013) and Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology, Kenya (2020 to date).

Hazel has also been a member of several boards like; (a) member of the advisory committee to All African Conference of Churches (AACC) (2008 to 2018), (b) member of the International Students Board representing School of Arts and Social Sciences Moi University, (c) a member of board of management at Ebunangwe Secondary School in Vihiga County (2009 to 2018), (d) Vice-chairperson, Hill School Parents’ Teacher Association (PTA) in Eldoret(1999 to 2001) and (e) the chairperson Uasin Gishu Children’s services forum in Uasin Gishu County, Kenya (2006 to 2014).

Voice of the Voiceless

Hazel served as the coordinator, Circle of Concerned African Women Theologians (the Circle), East African Region from 2007 to 2019. In her tenure, she advocated for the legacy of the Circle as the voice of the voiceless. This explains her theorization that the Circle voices women's issues through research and publications and by providing safe spaces for women to be themselves and to share their stories thus creating transformative narrative theologies. Telling stories gives voice to women's lived experiences and makes women, their lives and experiences audible and visible.

Hazel is also known for her work on the care and empowerment of orphans, vulnerable children and women affected by HIV/AIDS depicted through her publications such as, "AIDS, Science and Religion in Africa." Her philosophy is that HIV/AIDS is not just a medical problem in Africa, but also a socio-economic, psychological, cultural and spiritual problem since the menace is associated with intersectional factors such as gender disparity, poverty, attitudes towards those infected and affected, beliefs and cultural practices which influence the management of the disease in the continent. AIDS in Africa must therefore be understood within the context of African cultural beliefs. These beliefs are often understood and transmitted through the religious teachings and ritual practices of the community with women and children being the most vulnerable to HIV infections. She rallied the church and communities to pay attention to the plight of vulnerable children and women who are infected and affected by the disease. With her colleagues from the Circle, she implores on religious communities to advocate for legislation of women's rights and social and economic empowerment of women. As a result, women who are infected and affected by the disease can live dignified and fulfilling lives like other members of the community.

Hazel adds voice to the voiceless through her advocacy for the role of women in church and society using contextual approach to the concerns of African women in the church. She emphasizes the pivotal role of women in the propagation of the gospel and calls for the recognition of women in mission and missiology. Whereas she problematizes the poor contextualization of the missiological context and environment by the early missionaries to Africa, she acknowledges that these early missionaries and others from different parts of the globe, recognized that reaching women and improving their status would lead to the transformation of whole communities. This, in essence, is the basis of the activities of the Circle of Concerned African Women Theologians: the recognition of the centrality of women in church and society. She encourages women to be at the forefront in finding and formulating appropriate theological responses to the contextual challenges they encounter as she resonates with the words of Sarojini Nadar, a member of the Circle, that the “task of mission belongs to the Church and since women also comprise the Church, the task and responsibility of mission also belongs to them." She thus advocates for the training of women in theology and other academic disciplines in Africa.

Hazel has also been concerned about violence against women perpetrated in different ways including the African oral literature. She critiques discriminative and patriarchal structures that belittles and overlooks the place of women in socio-religious and cultural systems. She evaluates some prejudicial African proverbs premised on social and cultural traditions and customs that limited women's sphere of influence to the household. Based on her analysis, violence against women includes violence against the integrity and womanhood of women in its diversity. Together with other African women theologians, she condemns the various forms of violence against women and girls and calls on religious communities to show compassion and empower women as they battle discrimination and violence at all levels.

Selected works

• Ayanga, H. O. (2017). Contextual Challenges to African Women in Mission. International Review of Mission, 106(2), 295-306.
• Ayanga, H. O. (2016). Voice of the Voiceless: The Legacy of the Circle of Concerned African Women Theologians. Verbum et Ecclesia, 37(2), 1-6.
• Ayanga, H. O. (2016). Women in African Christianity. In Phiri, Isabel Apawo; Werner, Dietrich; Kaunda, Chammah; Owino, Kennedy; Asamoah-Gyadu, Kwabena; Djomhue, Priscille; Biri, Kudzai; Kalengyo, Edison (eds.). Anthology of African Christianity, Fortress Press, 944-948.[1]
• Ayanga, H. (2015). African cosmologies past and present. In Eisen, A. & Laderman, G. (eds.),Science, Religion and Society. London: Routledge, 325-331.
• Ayanga, H. (2015). AIDS, Science, and Religion in Africa. In Eisen, A. & Laderman, G. (eds.), Science, Religion and Society. London: Routledge, 649-653.
• Ayanga, H. (2012). Inspired and gendered: The hermeneutical challenge of teaching gender in Kenya. In Hendriks, H. J., Mouton, E., Hansen, L. & le Roux, E. Men in the Pulpit Women in the Pew: Addressing Gender Inequality in Africa. Stellenbosch, S.A: Sun Press, 85-92.
• Ayanga, H. O. (2011). Some Preliminary Notes on Gender, Culture and Theology. Hekima Review, (44), 8-16.
• Ayanga, H. (2008). Waging Peace: The Role of Religion in Reconciliation Process. Religion and Politics in Africa, 112-123.
• Ayanga, H. (2008). Religio-cultural challenges in women’s fight against HIV/AIDS in Africa. In Hinga, T. M., Kubai, A. N., Mwaura, P. & Ayanga, H. O. (eds.). Women, religion and HIV/AIDS in Africa: Responding to ethical and theological challenges, Cluster Publications, 34-48.
• Ayanga, H. (2005). Challenges to Mission in Contemporary Africa. Maarifa (Eldoret, Kenya), 1(1), 51-58.
• Getui, M. N., & Ayanga, H. (Eds.). (2002). Conflicts in Africa: A Women Response. Circle of Concerned African Women Theologians, Kenya Chapter.
• Ayanga, H. O. (1996). Violence against women in African oral literature as portrayed in proverbs. In Wamue, G. & Getui, M. (eds.). Violence Against Women: Reflections by Kenyan Women Theologians. Nairobi: Acton Publishers, 13-20.

Co-authored works

• Simion, K., Koech, J., & Ayanga, H. (2022). An Investigation of Church Based Peace Building Models in Selected Churches in Kericho County. British Journal of Multidisciplinary and Advanced Studies, 3(1), 1-10.
• Kamaara,E.,Nyongesa,P.,  Ayanga,H., Choge-Kerama,J.E., Chelagat,D., Koech,J.K., Mraja,M.,  Chemorion,K.E., Mothaly,J., Kiyiapi,L.,  Katwa,J., Odunga, J.  & James Lemons,J. (2020), “Hospital-based Spiritual Care for Mothers of Neonates at RMBH in Eldoret, Kenya: A Situational Analysis”, Health and Social Care Chaplaincy, Vol. 7(2), 145-167.
• Maua, A. C., Ayanga, H., & Kahiga, J. (2020). Christian Teachings on Marriage and Its Impact on Customary Marriage among the Iteso of North Teso. African Journal of Education, Science and Technology, 5(4), 258-267.
• Rutto, F., Ayanga, H., & Ngure, S. (2020). The Social Impact of Western Christianity on Marakwet Traditional Funeral Rites. African Journal of Education, Science and Technology, 5(4), 278-289.
• Christopher, S. K., Ayanga, H., & Choge, E. (2019) A Synthesized Nandi Anglican Ng’anyet Ritual: A Paradigm Shift In A Multi Religious World. International Journal of Innovative Research and Advanced Studies (IJIRAS), 6 (3), 98- 103.
• Nyongesa, P., Kamaara, E., Ayanga, H. O., Mothaly, J., Akim, S. P., Ivy, S., & Lemons, J. (2019). Integrating Spiritual Care into Maternity Care at a University Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret, Kenya: Challenges, Lessons and Way Forward. Health & Social Care Chaplaincy, 7(2), 168-215.
• Seurey, C. K., Ayanga, H., & Kabera, E. C. (2019). Ng'anyet: Death Rituals among the Nandi. The International Journal of Humanities & Social Studies 7(3), 300-308.http://dx.doi.org/10.24940/theijhss/2019/v7/i3/HS1903-071