Christianity is largely well received and appears to be growing rapidly in Kenya. Most people would consider themselves believers, or at least attend church. According to some statistics, 85% of Kenyans identify as Christians. Kenya is often culturally described as a ‘Christian country’. Across the nation, churches are everywhere.
However, in many places, the influence of the charismatic and ‘prosperity gospel’ movement is significant. This is largely a mixture of error and false teaching propagated by so-called ‘men of God’ who hold all manner of titles, and whose teachings greatly shape the theology of many people in Kenya. Prosperity gospel theology may appear lively, promising, and fulfilling, but at its heart it is a crossless message. There is therefore a great need for faithful, consistent gospel proclamation across Kenya today.
… an ideal location for advancing the gospel
Moved by this clear need, we are currently preparing to plant a local church in Mwingi Town, in the gospel-needy Lower Eastern region of Kenya. This region is home to around 4 million people, with many churches throughout, yet fewer than five known biblical churches. It is truly a mission field for planting faithful churches.
Mwingi Town is strategically positioned as a gateway to the Lower Eastern and North Eastern regions of the Republic of Kenya, making it an ideal location for advancing the gospel through preaching, church planting, biblical training of church leaders, and sending out gospel workers.
It is a fast-growing suburban town with a current population of around 30,000 people. There are more than 60 churches and over 40 denominations represented, most of which are led by self-proclaimed prosperity preachers who do not teach the Bible faithfully. It is quite a phenomenon.
More people are settling in the town each year, and new flats continue to be built to accommodate the growing population. As a growing business hub and junction town connecting neighbouring counties, Mwingi attracts diverse communities and offers excellent accessibility for gospel ministry.
Its increasingly metropolitan nature presents a ripe and strategic opportunity for … a gospel-proclaiming church…
There is a clear need for a faithful, Bible-teaching, Christ-proclaiming local church to serve this growing population. Its increasingly metropolitan nature presents a ripe and strategic opportunity for establishing a gospel-proclaiming church that can evangelise non-believers, disciple believers in the truth, pioneer mission work and informal training, and reach a region where gospel faithfulness is limited, as well as areas further afield.
We therefore earnestly desire to see the people of Mwingi Town find a consistently healthy church where they can grow, be shepherded with a sound biblical gospel diet, and be equipped to reach others. We are excited to see the Lord build his church, advance his gospel, and grow his kingdom in that part of Kenya and beyond.
We are currently holding bi-monthly pilot fellowship gatherings in the town, which have been greatly encouraging.
We are preparing in every way, trusting the Lord to see a new church plant established in Mwingi Town to advance the gospel in the town community, the Eastern region, and beyond. We plan to launch the church plant in June 2027.
The harvest is plentiful in Kenya and in the Lower Eastern region. The workers are still few in this semi-urban area, and we are humbly asking the Lord of the harvest to send us as his harvesters into this mission field (Matthew 9:35–38).
Peter Mukungi, along with his wife, Promise, and daughter, Precious, serves with UFM in Kenya and is preparing to plant a faithful, Bible-teaching church in Mwingi Town, a growing region with great gospel need.
Photos: (Banner) Image of Mwingi town (Bottom) Church plant pilot fellowship