Once a Feared Bandit, Now a Community Builder, Entrepreneur and Church Planter

Hassan Lomunyo Tepa is a respected leader in East Pokot, an area in northwestern Kenya. He currently lives in Tangulubei with his second wife and their son, where he leads a small church with 38 members. Hassan also runs a hotel and other businesses while serving as a facilitator and church planter for All Nations Business for Movements, helping his community develop entrepreneurial skills. He follows Jesus and brings hope to his people.

But it hasn’t always been this way—Hassan’s life once looked completely different.

A Journey of Transformation

The story of Hassan is one of profound transformation, set against the backdrop of the challenging and vibrant world of the Pokot people, pastoral nomads, in northwestern Kenya. Born in 1974, Hassan’s life has been shaped by the harsh realities of nomadic existence, conflict, and poverty, but also by hope, faith, and the drive to build a better future for his community.

Life Among the Pokot and Early Hardships

The Pokot rely heavily on their livestock for identity and survival. Frequent droughts and cattle raids lead to conflicts with neighboring tribes. Despite limited infrastructure, the Pokot preserve a rich cultural heritage and belief in Tororot, their supreme God. Hassan, raised in this environment, faced early hardships. After his father’s death in 1986, he left school to embrace the nomadic life. He married at 30 and had ten children with his first wife.

Hassan recalls, “When I was young, nobody told me about Jesus. I was very poor, with no animals or food.” Like many young Pokot men, Hassan engaged in cattle raiding, a culturally ingrained yet violent practice. The loss of livestock to rival tribes was devastating, often leading to deadly conflicts.

Hassan attending the Facilitators Training in Tanzania

A New Beginning

Hassan’s journey took a remarkable turn through a series of dreams and encounters that led him to faith: “Once I had a dream in which I saw God. He expressed His love for me and instructed me to attend church the next day. While there, I received a bag of clothes from some people, which I perceived as a sign from God.”

Through small opportunities—such as being offered a job building a bridge and his wife’s earnings from making mandazi (bread) and chapati (pancakes)—Hassan slowly built up his assets, buying goats and eventually working as a school watchman. At one point, he owned 580 goats. However, he struggled with alcoholism, losing his livestock, until another dream called him back to faith and church: “I accepted Jesus when He spoke to me through a dream. He promised fulfillment, and I realized He is the true God. Many things I prayed for have come to pass. I prayed for the sick, and they recovered. I stand with Him until the end.”

Planting Churches and Hope

Hassan became a church planter when he met George, a church founder and national leader of Business for Movements. With his wife Joyce, Hassan embraced Christianity and spread the Gospel to young men involved in raiding and violence. Together, they started 9 churches with about 300 believers, and 80 young men, now known as the Reform Warriors, have come to faith. The community is changing—former raiders are turning to beekeeping, wells are being built, schools established, and violence is declining.

Building a Future with Pioneer Business Planting

Hassan’s transformation extends to business through Business For Movements and Pioneer Business Planting (PBP) training. He reflects on this growth: “Before, my businesses failed repeatedly. After PBP training, I learned to manage money, maintain records, and understand finances. Now, my businesses are stable.”

Today, Hassan owns a small hotel and a shop, managed by his wife. He is also exploring agriculture. His hotel is a community hub, providing food and fellowship. Hassan integrates his faith into his business, closing the hotel on Sundays for church attendance and supporting church activities with his earnings.

Hassan's wife (Joyce) food stall business in Akwitchatis

Gratitude and Vision

Hassan is grateful for the support from All Nations Business For Movements, saying:

“Business For Movements and PBP Training transformed my life, expanding my knowledge and allowing me to experience unimaginable things specially when I attended the Facilitators Training in Tanzania. This movement is vital for reaching more people who don’t know Jesus. The combined business and church training is invaluable, empowering people to drive change.”

Hassan’s journey from bandit to leader and entrepreneur exemplifies the transformative power of faith, education, and resilience. Stories like his inspire and support our vision of establishing 1000 businesses and 1000 churches by 2028, showcasing the potential for profound change in East Pokot and beyond.

About the author: Jonathan Nolan is the International Business Director for All Nations International. In this role, he helps church planters in Asia and Africa become self-sustainable and help use business to make disciples. He has been part of All Nations since 2008 and has been doing church planting and business planting in Cambodia, Spain and The Netherlands. https://allnations.international/b4m 

Staying Connected or Learning More

Help share this and other blogs with your friends and ministry leaders! It would also be a huge help if you could please follow us on social media via the links below! Thank you!

If you would like to receive leadership updates, link here to stay current on All Nations International’s news and prayer efforts! To learn more about All Nations today, visit: www.allnations.international!

Are you wondering if you are wired to go? This area on our web site will help you!

We have plenty other resources (devotion, book club, events) and a monthly global prayer for the neglected! You are welcome to join us.

Give today to see the neglected globally reached — the least, the last, and the lost!

www.allnations.international

Reaching the neglected globally — the least, the last, and the lost since 1993.