Temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Elder Gary E. Stevenson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles appeared on NTV Kenya today as part of a nine-day ministry visit to Africa. He was accompanied by Elder Ian S. Ardern, president of the Africa Central Area, and President Denis M. Mukasa, president of the Nairobi Kenya East Stake. Among the topics discussed was the Nairobi Kenya Temple. Construction of the temple is ongoing and is expected to be completed within the next two years.

The exterior cladding of the Nairobi Kenya Temple is nearing completion. Scaffolding remains around the steeple where glass has been installed in the window openings, but cladding has not yet started. Construction on the project began almost two-and-a-half years ago in September 2021. The temple is the first to be constructed in East Africa.

Nighttime security lights shine on the Nairobi Kenya Temple and ancillary facilities where construction is progressing steadily. Cladding has been affixed to many of the exterior surfaces of the temple, and window frames have been installed in the steeple. Shingles have been laid on the roof of the multipurpose facility, and solar panels have been installed. Construction has been underway for approximately two years.

Elder Ronald A. Rasband of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles was interviewed today in front of the Nairobi Kenya Temple in a Facebook Live on The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints - Africa Central Area page. He was accompanied by his wife, Melanie; Elder Brent H. Nielson of the Presidency of the Seventy and his wife, Marcia; and Elder Paul B. Pieper, the newly called second counselor in the Africa Central Area presidency, and his wife, Melissa.

Crews continue to build the Nairobi Kenya Temple and it accompanying facilities, though not much can be seen over the construction barrier that surrounds the property. The steeple remains the same since the spire was installed eight months ago, and construction is anticipated to continue for a couple of more years. The temple will bring the blessings of the House of the Lord to East Africa. Kenyan members currently fly 1,818 miles (2,925 km) to Johannesburg, South Africa or 2,600 miles (4,184 km) to Accra, Ghana.

Construction signage at the Nairobi Kenya Temple provides details on the companies and organizations involved in the project including the developer, architects, surveyors, engineers, and subcontractors. Scaffolding surrounds the steeple frame, which has yet to be sheathed and clad. The temple and an adjoining multipurpose facility have been under construction for the last 18 months.

The slender white spire on the Nairobi Kenya Temple has been hoisted into place and attached to the top of the steeple frame. The temple and a large, multistory ancillary building have been under construction for over 13 months. There are four other temples under construction in Africa in the nations of Ivory Coast, Sierra Leone, Zimbabwe, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Ten more African temples are in the planning stages.

A group of white steel trusses have been secured to the roof of the Nairobi Kenya Temple to form the frame for the steeple over the main entrance. The temple sits where the former meetinghouse stood on the west end of the property, facing east toward the ancillary buildings. Pitched roof trusses have been installed over the ancillary buildings. They will provide housing and services to support the operation of the temple.

At the conclusion of a ten-day visit to three countries in sub-Saharan Africa, Elder Ronald A. Rasband of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles toured the construction site of the Nairobi Kenya Temple. Addressing the media, he said: "I speak as an Apostle of Jesus Christ. I know that God loves the people of Kenya. We as a Church are grateful to have freedom of religion here. May God bless this wonderful country of Kenya and all its wonderful citizens." Breeze blocks for the housing facility are currently being explored and assessed for strength, precision, finish, and color. They will be used to create cool sheltered corridors around a central courtyard. Construction is expected to be completed by 2025.

A view of the east end of the Nairobi Kenya Temple site shows the impressive progress that has been made on ancillary structures over the past six to seven months of construction. Floor slabs and foundation walls have been installed, and work on superstructure support is moving forward. The temple complex is located in the Mountain View neighborhood of Nairobi. Church news releases have not specified the buildings that will accompany the temple.

Ground was broken on East Africa's first temple today at the Mountain View chapel in Nairobi, Kenya, under the direction of Elder Joseph W. Sitati, president of the Africa Central Area. Speaking of the effect of the temple on the rising generation, Elder Sitati said: "This is the place they will get married; this is the place where they will make eternal covenants that will bless them for all eternity." The Nairobi Kenya Temple was "wholly welcomed" by the Right Honorable Raila Odinga, former Prime Minister of Kenya, who had a message read at the service. Among his words, he said: "At a very difficult time, members of the Church have been at the forefront, giving us reason to hope."

On September 11, 2021, the groundbreaking ceremony will be held for the Nairobi Kenya Temple. Elder Joseph W. Sitati, Africa Central Area president, will preside at the event. The location of the temple will be released later. There are currently two stakes and six districts organized in the country of Kenya with both stakes headquartered in the capital city of Nairobi. Plans to construct the temple were announced in the April 2017 General Conference.