The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Kenya
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The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Kenya refers to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) and its members in Kenya. In 1981, two small congregations were created in Kenya (Nairobi and Kiboko). In 2025, there were 24,547 members in 57 congregations.[4] On April 2, 2017, church president Thomas S. Monson announced that a temple would be built in Nairobi.[5]
History
| Year | Membership |
|---|---|
| 1987 | 99 |
| 1989* | 300 |
| 1995* | 2,200 |
| 1999 | 4,039 |
| 2004 | 6,832 |
| 2009 | 9,370 |
| 2014 | 12,471 |
| 2019 | 14,591 |
| 2024 | 21,204 |
| 2025 | 24,547 |
| *Membership was published as a rounded number. Source: Wendall J. Ashton; Jim M. Wall, Deseret News, various years, Church Almanac Country Information: Kenya[1] | |
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 There was only one LDS missionary couple from then until 1989, when the couple was withdrawn.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.[6] In March 2016, the Nairobi Kenya Stake was divided to form the east and west stake.[7]
In 2020, the mission headquartered in Nairobi mission was divided with the creation of the Tanzania Dar es Salaam Mission.[8] In August 2020, the church organized the new Africa Central Area with its headquarters in Nairobi. The new area oversees the church in 18 countries.[9]
Stakes and districts
| Stake/District | Organized | Mission |
|---|---|---|
| Bomet Kenya District | 8 Mar 2026 | Kenya Kisumu |
| Bungoma Kenya District | 7 Dec 2025 | Kenya Kisumu |
| Busia Kenya District | 13 Jan 2019 | Kenya Kisumu |
| Eldoret Kenya District | 24 Apr 2011 | Kenya Kisumu |
| Kilungu Hills Kenya District | 12 Oct 2014 | Kenya Nairobi East |
| Kisumu Kenya District | 16 Jun 2019 | Kenya Kisumu |
| Kitale Kenya District | 9 Apr 2019 | Kenya Kisumu |
| Kwale Kenya District | 24 May 2026 | Kenya Nairobi East |
| Kyulu Kenya Stake | 14 July 2024 | Kenya Nairobi East |
| Makindu Kenya District | 7 Dec 2025 | Kenya Nairobi East |
| Mombasa Kenya District | 25 Oct 2015 | Kenya Nairobi East |
| Nairobi Kenya East Stake | 9 Sep 2001 | Kenya Nairobi West |
| Nairobi Kenya South Stake | 5 Mar 2023 | Kenya Nairobi East |
| Nairobi Kenya West Stake | 20 Mar 2016 | Kenya Nairobi West |
| Nakuru Kenya District | 11 May 2025 | Kenya Nairobi West |
| Vihiga Kenya District | 23 Mar 2025 | Kenya Kisumu |
Missions
- Kenya Nairobi West Mission
- Kenya Nairobi East Mission
- Kenya Kisumu Mission (1 July 2026)
Temples
On April 2, 2017, Thomas S. Monson announced the intent to construct the Nairobi Kenya Temple in the church's general conference.
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| Location: Announced: Groundbreaking: Dedicated: Size: |
Nairobi, Kenya 2 April 2017 by Thomas S. Monson[10] 11 September 2021 by Joseph W. Sitati[11] 18 May 2025 by Ulisses Soares[12][13] 19,870 sq ft (1,846 m2) on a 3.435-acre (1.390 ha) site | ||
