The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Kenya

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) in Kenya reported 14,591 members in two stakes, six districts, 54 congregations (thirteen wards and 41 branches), and one mission, in Kenya, as of December 31, 2019.[1][2] On April 2, 2017, church president Thomas S. Monson announced that a temple would be built in Nairobi.[3]

History

The first Kenyans baptized into the LDS Church in Kenya were the family of Elizaphan and Ebisiba Osaka, who were baptized in 1979. The first LDS missionaries began serving in Kenya in 1980. There was only one LDS missionary couple from then until 1989, when the couple was withdrawn. Joseph W. Sitati, who joined the LDS Church along with his family in 1985, was designated the lead elder of the church in Kenya at that point. In February 1991, he met with Daniel arap Moi, president of Kenya. Later that month the attorney general of Kenya gave Sitati and a few other church leaders a form signifying the church was officially recognized.

In July 1991, the Kenya Nairobi Mission was organized, with Larry King Brown as president. The first LDS meeting house was completed in Nairobi in 1994. In 2001 a stake was organized, with Sitati called as president. Sitati later became the first general authority from Kenya.[4]

Membership history
Year Membership[5]
1989300b
19952,200b
19994,039c
20046,832c
20098,416a
201210,922a
  • a Actual Membership for January 1 of the respective year
  • b Estimated membership for Dec 31 of the respective year
  • c Actual Membership for Dec 31 of the respective year

Stake and districts
The Plan of salvation in Swahili.
  • Chyulu Kenya District
  • Eldoret Kenya District
  • Mombasa Kenya District
  • Kilungu Hills Kenya District
  • Kisumu Kenya District
  • Kitale Kenya District
  • Nairobi Kenya East Stake
  • Nairobi Kenya West Stake

Mission

Temple

On April 2, 2017, Thomas S. Monson announced the intent to construct the Nairobi Kenya Temple in the church's general conference.

204. Nairobi Kenya (Announced)

Location:
Announced:
 Notes:

Nairobi, Kenya
2 April 2017
Announced by Thomas S. Monson on 2 April 2017[6]

See also

References
  1. "Facts and Statistics: Statistics by Country: Kenya", Newsroom, LDS Church, 31 December 2018, retrieved 2019-04-25
  2. "Country information: Kenya", Church News Online Almanac, Deseret News, 1 February 2010, retrieved 2013-03-09
  3. "President Monson Announces Five New Temples: Mormon temples to be built in South America, Africa, Philippines and US". Newsroom. LDS Church. 2017-04-02.
  4. Church News, 2010 Edition, p. 514-515
  5. "Country information: Kenya", Deseret News Church Almanac (multiple almanacs from various years), Deseret News
  6. "President Monson Announces Five New Temples: Mormon temples to be built in South America, Africa, Philippines and US". Newsroom. LDS Church. 2 April 2017.


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