Their expensive colognes waft luxuriant scents on the pulpit where jewellery from gold and ruby chains to diamond rings are just a peek into what ‘prosperity gospel’ means in manifest opulence.
Here are our flashiest pastors in flesh and blood:
1. BISHOP MARGARET WANJIRU
The immediate former assistant Housing Minister and Starehe MP and founder of Jesus is Alive Ministries is now breaking the ground to build the ultramodern twin towers along Haile Selassie Avenue, Nairobi. The twin towers-on opposite sides of the road-will connected by an overhead tunnel.
The building-whose budget will nearly peck the billion shilling lips- will be a near replica of the American twin tower and will change landscape of down town Nairobi. The stylish bishop, who started off as a janitor (euphemism for cleaner) in Industrial Area before becoming a street preacher restocks her wardrobe on trips abroad. I wear “golden sandals in the morning, changes to silver in the afternoon and retires in bronze in the evening,” she once told a congregation.
Bishop Wanjiru’s ministry grew in leaps and bounds. Shortly, she relocated it from Mang’ Building to Godowns across the road. Bishop Wanjiru now plays in the financial ‘Champions’ League and pretty far from the Third Division of her early beginnings. Her son, Steven Kariuki unsuccessfully ran for the Mathare Constituency seat in the last General Election.
2. THE KIUNAS
Allan and Kathy Kiuna were mentored by Pastor Teresia Wairimu before starting their own church at Temus Restaurant then owned by Terry Mungai of Ashley’s Hair Salon. Rent was a subsidised Sh3,700 a month. But what started with a congregation of six is now the 5,000 strong Jubilee Christian Church.
Kathy plays golf alongside her husband Allan (who is a columnist for The Nairobian) who apparently convinced her to start teeing off to earn a handicap on the greens.
The couple plays golf on Mondays, their off day.
The Kiunas are blessed with three children: Vanessa, Stephanie, who is in high school, and Jeremy, 11.
The Kiunas are no stranger to happy controversies. Recently, pictures of their affluent pad made rounds on the social media, followed by a string of comments about serving God and its place in earthly extravagance. And what of their rumoured ‘hanging swimming pool’ for them?
That has not been confirmed.
Kathy has no apologies. “Those who talk only know the ‘after’; they should have seen the ‘before’ to appreciate the work of God,” she explained in an interview. “God has raised us up in the church and the church is as good as its flock — if the flock is walking in poverty, so will the church.”
Kathy adds: “Many in our congregation are living well; this is just the tip of the iceberg, we are only warming up, we are coming. We were called by God to raise leaders and that is exactly what we are doing — raising people to be the best they can be, and as they grow, so do we. Besides, you can never pay a pastor enough.”
In a previous interview Kathy was quoted saying: “God wants us to be prosperous in every single way. His desire for us is to walk in abundance. I am praying for church people to show the likes of Bill Gates dust!”
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