Dedication of the Nairobi Kenya Temple
On the afternoon of Tuesday, Feb. 17, 1998, President Gordon B. Hinckley met with nearly 900 Latter-day Saints — including some who had traveled for days by bus from Ethiopia, Somalia, Tanzania and Uganda — in a large hotel conference room in Nairobi, Kenya. It was the first visit to Kenya and East Africa by a president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
During his remarks, President Hinckley promised that as members are faithful, the Church “will grow and grow and grow” in that part of the world. “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.”
The patient East African Saints saw the fulfillment of this prophecy just over 27 years later. The Nairobi Kenya Temple was dedicated May 18, 2025, by Elder Ulisses Soares of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, with the single dedicatory session broadcast to all units throughout the temple district.
The Nairobi temple was the first house of the Lord built in Kenya and the second in East Africa, following the Kinshasa Democratic Republic of the Congo Temple, dedicated in 2019.
“These members in Africa, generally speaking, they embrace the gospel in such a way that they make it the center of their lives,” said Elder Soares. “Having a temple in Nairobi is a moment of celebration of that covenant confidence they have in the gospel with the Lord and a celebration of their faith.”
Elder Soares continued: “The decision to extend temples closer to the people is a sign that God and His Beloved Son want to extend Their blessings to all people. Seeing temple ordinances and covenants extended to every person who is worthy is a marvelous blessing.”
Elder Soares was accompanied at the dedicatory services by his wife, Sister Rosana Soares. They were joined by Elder Kevin R. Duncan, a General Authority Seventy and executive director of the Church’s Temple Department, and his wife, Sister Nancy Duncan; and Elder Thierry K. Mutombo, a General Authority Seventy and Africa Central Area president, and his wife, Sister Nathalie Tshayi Mutombo.
The dedicatory session was conducted in English, with translations offered in Swahili, French and Amharic, languages spoken in the temple district. At the time of dedication, the Nairobi temple served members in Kenya, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Burundi, Uganda, Rwanda and South Sudan.
President Fredrick B. Shamola of the Nairobi Kenya South Stake first attended the temple after his mission in 2003 when he boarded a five-hour flight to Johannesburg, South Africa, then the only house of the Lord on the African continent. Having a temple in Nairobi means some East African Saints can attend the temple and return home “the same day,” he said. Members also have the opportunity to serve as ordinance workers, a dream come true for many. “This is something I never thought would happen in my lifetime. I am grateful for the temple in Nairobi. This is very dear to me.”
Elder Paul B. Pieper, a General Authority Seventy and first counselor in the Africa Central Area at the time of dedication, said that for many years, rumors had circulated about the teachings and worship of the Church. The building of the temple and open house provided opportunities for members to answer questions and inform others, changing significant misperceptions and correcting false information about the Church.
“I think we have all been surprised to see how many friends who attended the temple felt the Spirit and asked to know more about the Church,” he said. “It has given members a new energy to invite friends and family to learn about the Church. One of those we invited is being taught by the missionaries and is loving what she is learning.”
The open house attracted more than 9,700 visitors, with over 60% being youth or young parents. Many commented on the calm, peaceful feeling they felt in the temple’s celestial room then asked how they might learn more about the Church.
One man, without knowing about the Church’s Word of Wisdom, said after being in the celestial room that he knew he needed to stop drinking. Children were especially reverent during the tours and didn‘t want to leave. One little boy’s countenance changed as he entered the temple and saw a portrait of the Savior. He whispered, “Jesus” and folded his arms.
Dedicatory prayer excerpt: “We thank Thee for Thy goodness and love toward Thy children in this nation and for the sacrifices of members around the world who helped provide the means by which Thy kingdom might grow in this land. We thank Thee also for granting us the opportunity to prepare ourselves through receiving sacred ordinances and entering into holy covenants with Thee within Thy holy temples, that we might one day dwell with Thee and Thy Holy Son, Jesus Christ.”
Read the dedicatory prayer of the Nairobi Kenya Temple here.
Timeline of the Nairobi Kenya Temple
The Nairobi Kenya Temple was announced April 2, 2017, by Church President Thomas S. Monson. The groundbreaking and site dedication for this house of the Lord were held on Sept. 11, 2021, and presided over by Elder Joseph W. Sitati, Africa Central Area president.
After a public open house from April 17 to May 3, 2025, the Nairobi Kenya Temple was dedicated May 18, 2025, by Elder Ulisses Soares of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.
Architecture and Design of the Nairobi Kenya Temple
A single-story building of approximately 19,000 square feet, the Nairobi temple has an exterior of cast-in-place concrete, with the stone veneer made of Portuguese Moleanos limestone. The exterior designs feature the African lily (agapanthus) — which is also predominant in the art glass and interior designs — along with circles and repeated patterns with native influences. The edifice stands on a 3.435-acre site.
The blue-lavender African lily and other floral designs and patterns are found throughout the interior design, fitting since Nairobi is one of the largest exporters of flowers on the African continent. The interior furniture is of British colonial design, the art glass includes floral patterns in a blue-and-green palate, and the walls feature neutral tones as inspired by the Kenyan savannah.
Besides carpeting and rugs, the flooring also includes porcelain Cerim Marfil stone with quartzite blue and verde imperiale accents, with the Portuguese Moleanos limestone used for stone skirtings. Doors and millwork are made of sapele mahogany from Africa, and the patterning in the altars, pews, recommend desk and instruction room complements the art glass, floral arrangements and geometric motifs throughout the temple.
Interior Photos of the Nairobi Kenya Temple
