Nairobi Kenya Temple
During his opening remarks on 2 April 2017, at the Sunday morning session of the 187th annual general conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, President Thomas S. Monson announced that a new temple would be constructed in the city of Nairobi, Kenya. It will be the eighth temple constructed on the continent of Africa and the first built in Kenya.
There are three operating African temples, including the Aba Nigeria Temple, Accra Ghana Temple, and the Johannesburg South Africa Temple. Two temples are under construction, including the Kinshasa Democratic Republic of Congo Temple and the Durban South Africa Temple. Two other temples, in addition to Nairobi, have been announced — the Abidjan Ivory Coast Temple and the Harare Zimbabwe Temple.[1]
There are two stakes and six districts operating in the nation of Kenya with both stakes headquartered in the capital city of Nairobi. There are also three stakes in neighboring Uganda. Many other Saints living in the outlying regions of East Africa, who currently must travel to the distant Johannesburg South Africa Temple, will be immensely blessed by the Nairobi Kenya Temple.
Temple History
In February 1998, President Gordon B. Hinckley, accompanied by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles embarked on an international tour of five African countries and locations in Canada, the Canary Islands, and Cape Verde.
During the afternoon of 17 February 1998, President Hinckley arrived in Nairobi, Kenya, where he addressed some 900 members in a conference room at his hotel. Members were excited to meet the prophet and traveled from as far as Ethiopia, Somalia, Tanzania, and Uganda to be with him. Because not all could afford a trip to Nairobi, some members joined their money together to send representatives who could come back and relate the experience of being with the prophet of the Lord.
During his remarks, President Hinckley said, "There isn't the slightest doubt in my mind that the time will come if you will walk in faith and patience that a temple will be built in this land to serve the needs of this people. Now, don't count on it for a few years,…but it will be so."[2]
Media Event
On 14 June 2017, a media event was held to familiarize members of the press with the recently announced Nairobi Kenya Temple. A variety of media outlets and opinion leaders were in attendance. Elder Joseph W. Sitati of the Seventy was the key speaker, addressing the importance of temples and fielding questions from attendees.
On 14 July 2021, an official exterior rendering of the Nairobi Kenya Temple was released. No site location has been officially announced for the Nairobi Kenya Temple, but the property has been acquired.
Groundbreaking Ceremony Announced
The First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has announced that the groundbreaking ceremony for the Nairobi Kenya Temple will be held on Saturday, 11 September 2021. Elder Joseph W. Sitati, Africa Central Area president, will preside at the event. Attendance at the groundbreaking ceremony will be by invitation only.
