Churches push faith to new highs with ‘cities’

Many churches own extensive land and property holdings that are used for religious purposes such as prayer centres, cathedrals and mission stations.

However, some churches have also ventured into real estate development, utilising their land to generate income by constructing commercial buildings, residential complexes, hospitals and hotels.

A new phenomenon has been megacities meant to serve the needs of their congregations, unlike in the past when they primarily made investments in schools, colleges and hospitals.

The development goes to show the riches invested in some of the churches. Last year, for example, it was estimated the richest church raked in about Sh1 billion in annual returns beating some for-profit companies and organisations in terms of taxable income generated per annum. Here are some of the mega projects churches have launched in the recent past that could redefine home ownership in the country.

Majestic City

Bishop Mark Kariuki of Deliverance Church has unveiled mega plans for a multi-billion-shilling estate that will add glamour to Ruai, along Kangundo Road.

It took President William Ruto to unveil Majestic City, which is a vision under Deliverance Church International at a thanksgiving service at the Ruai-based church, where the head of state lauded the project, which is also aligned with his government’s housing agenda.

The mixed-use development will include 1,500 affordable homes as well as various modern amenities, including schools and hospitals. It will also be home to one, two and three-bedroom apartments, and Majestic School at primary and kindergarten levels.

The idea includes “growing fully furnished contemporary hospitals with diverse treatment functions, a four-storey commercial mall with fully furnished meeting facilities, an auditorium and a rooftop café”.

Beulah City project

The Purpose Ministries under pastor Julian Kyula owns the Beulah City project which was incorporated in 2016 and headquartered in Nairobi. It seeks to provide urban the Kenyan market with quality affordable housing solutions for lower to middle-income Kenyans.

The projects are spread into two areas. The first one is Beula Genesis based in Dagoretti and comprises 1,024 apartments set within a green space, Beulah Genesis offers a variety of unit configurations ranging from studios, 1 and 2 bedrooms. It also has Beulah JPM along Kangudo Road with one and two-bedroom and studio units.

Kingdom City

Apostle John Kimani William of the Kingdom Seekers Fellowship has started construction of a new city in Nakuru that will likely be the biggest of its kind. The Kingdom City faith-based community, which spans over 300 acres is located close to Lanet, and will house a massive church complex in addition to schools, hospitals, and recreational facilities for the fellowship’s expanding membership.The Nakuru-based church will entirely fund the multibillion-shilling project, which will be carried out over several years.

Jerusalem City

Less than 20km from the Kenya-Tanzania border, in Nkatatei, Kajiado county, Apostle James Ng’ang’a of the Neno Evangelism Centre is constructing what he calls Jerusalem City, a 50-acre estate. The project will consist of a megachurch, mall, hotel, bank, school and college or university when completed in about a decade. Ng’ang’a improved a 1.5km road connecting Jerusalem City and dug three boreholes to provide residents with water for domestic use.

Mavueni City

Pastor Ezekiel Odero of Newlife Church is constructing a 65-acre estate in Kilifi County that has impressed the people of Mavueni community. A hospital, rehabilitation facility, shopping centre, residential homes, an international school and a university are all planned for the estate. One of the hotels is almost finished.

While building estates is a relatively recent phenomenon in Kenya, places of worship have started building mega-churches in the last ten years to better serve their people.

Jiam City

Nearly 10 years after it was first announced, Jesus is Alive Ministries (JIAM), for instance, has yet to start construction on its much-known JIAM City in Nairobi. Two towers on either side of Haile Selassie Avenue, which would be joined by a bridge and provide tourists with picturesque views of Nairobi’s skyline, were to be part of JIAM City. Recent reports on the project are nonexistent.