馃嚢馃嚜KenyaEast Africa
Kenyatta family's St. John the Baptist Chapel in Ichaweri honors Kenya's founding father
via Tuko2 min read
The St. John the Baptist Chapel, located in Ichaweri village, Gatundu South, Kiambu County, was built by the Kenyatta family to honor Kenya's founding father, Mzee Jomo Kenyatta. Mama Ngina Kenyatta and her family completed the chapel, fulfilling a dream Mzee Jomo Kenyatta started in 1971 when he laid the foundation for a small chapel. The chapel features stained-glass windows, polished marble floors, and fine wooden finishes, creating a serene worship space. Its exterior includes elegant turrets and stonework. On December 16, 2023, Archbishop Philip Anyolo consecrated the new St. John the Baptist Chapel, with former president Uhuru Kenyatta and other family members present. A plaque at the church states that Mama Ngina Kenyatta built the chapel on the foundation laid by Mzee Jomo Kenyatta in 1971. Another older plaque indicates that Jomo built the chapel in 1971, and it was consecrated in 1981 by Bishop John Njenga, with Daniel Arap Moi unveiling the commemorative plaque in August 1981. The chapel is the ninth church in the Archangel Mutomo Parish. The Kenyatta family estate in Ichaweri is a private, multi-house compound used for private gatherings, cultural events, and political meetings.
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