Nairobi’s Most Richest & Flamboyant Pastors Every Sunday you go to church to get spiritual nourishment from the man and women of God. They give you hope and a reason to face tomorrow as it will be more better that today. Right? But are they there for money? They come to church in imported handmade suits creased on the soft leather seats of their latest fuel guzzlers that any equally flashy member of the 11th Parliament would break a bank to own. 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. The lives that some pastors live makes you wonder if it is all about the word of God or money? The Standard has this juicy article of the lifestyle of church pastors in Nairobi with a focus on the most flamboyant and stylish in flesh and blood: 1. BISHOP MARGARET WANJIRU The founder of Jesus is Alive Ministries and immediate former assistant Housing Minister and Starehe MP is now breaking the ground to build the ultramodern twin towers on opposite sides of the road along Haile Selassie Avenue, Nairobi which 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. Bishop Margaret Wanjiru, Jesus is Alive Ministries. At the background, is a poster of her twin towers to be built on Haile Selassie Avenue, Nairobi. The buildings will be a replica of the American twin towers. 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. 2. THE KIUNAS Allan and Kathy Kiuna started their own church from a rented room with a congregation of six is which has grown into 5,000 strong Jubilee Christian Church. Kiuna Kiuna’s Palatial Home in Runda Allan is also a columnist for The Nairobian and Kathy hosts “The Woman Without Limits” on NTV.The couple plays golf and are blessed with three children: Vanessa, 21, a Law student in Australia, Stephanie, 16, who is in high school, and Jeremy, 11. The Kiunas are no stranger to happy controversies. They have been bought birthday gifts of a BMW and Sports Range Lover by the church and just recently, pictures of their affluent pad made rounds on the social media. 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. 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! 3. PROPHET DR DAVID OWUOR He arrived in a presidential-style convoy comprising sleek black Mercedes cars accompanied by siren blaring police outriders taking the lead, clearing the way. No traffic snarl-ups here as Prophet David Owuor was chauffeured to Kenyatta University annual student’s conference where thousands thronged to hear him preach last month. It is not clear how this prophet coins his pretty penny. He has severally claimed that he never accepts church offering. Remember when senior pastors of his Ministry of Repentance and Holiness bought him a Mercedes S500 as a gift? Well, that gift cost Sh25 million. Prophet Owuor globe trots, preaching in Angola, Uganda, Tanzania, Namibia, USA, Finland, China, Korea, Australia, UK, Burundi, Brazil and Holland. 4. BISHOP DAVID OYEDEPO oyedepoForbes magazine’s rates his wealth as approximately Sh14 billion making him Nigeria richest pastor. He owns an airline and a publishing house among other businesses. During his recent visit to officially open Winners Chapel Likoni Road, East and Central Africas largest church, he made his grand entry aboard a private jet at the JKIA, where a motorcade of Range Rover Sports cars in tow whisked him to the sanctuary. By the way, the jet is one of four. Winners Chapel International, also known as Living Faith Church, has a presence in 34 countries, with its headquarters in Lagos, Nigeria. Faith Tabernacle in Nigeria was named the world’s largest church auditorium by Guinness Book. It is outside overflow capacity is 250,000. 5. MARK KARIUKI Forget his well cut designer suits and shoes. Just know that to reach the former deputy head teacher of Kenyatta Primary School, your call first goes to his Personal Assistant. One highlights of Bishop Mark Kariuki’s life- his recent glamorous wedding to Pastor Joyce Wacera Kariuki, featured on Samantha Bridal Wedding TV show. The invite-only Grand Wedding was attended by around 6,000 people, equivalent to 12 weddings at a go! Two flower companies were required to pull off the feat, five catering outfits divided to feed 1,200 attendants each while 300 VVIPs were taken care of via the Safari Park Hotels outside catering unit. There was private security for VVIP’s among others. Besides the 10,000-seater sanctuary that is the Life Celebration Centre, Bishop Kariuki is the General Overseer of Deliverance Church for which he provides guidance to pastors in over 700 churches. Among his interests includes Kings Academy School, Kings Medical Centre and Homologeo Industries that comprises Homologeo Detergents & Body Products, Homologeo Tailoring and Poultry projects. 6. THOMAS WAHOME The Helicopter Church Ministries Bishop whose sermons air on local TV stations not only carries a Bible but also has a licensed gun hid on his side. Marked by shiny white suits, even along court corridors where he has been fighting his ex-wife, Leah Mueni who demands child support for their three children. Mueni who was demanding Sh300, 000, says Wahome earns Sh500, 000 as salary and millions in church tithe. However, he is willing to part with Sh5, 000 as monthly upkeep for her and the children. He owns a Mercedes Benz which he once accused Mueni of retaining and refusing to hand over claiming that he hire out for private functions at Sh15, 000 a month to supplement his income. 7. BROTHER PAUL KAMLESH PATTNI He first shot into the national limelight with the Sh60 billion plus Goldenberg scandal. That he was dealing in gemstones meant wearing a Sh160,000 sapphire ring was no big deal. Tribulations of biblical Jacob proportions came fast and furious. Pattni was jailed, accused of murder and the court cases never seemed to end, even after he gave the state the Sh4 billion Grand Regency Hotel (now Laico Regency) He then joined politics through his party Kenya National Democratic Alliance, but lost the Westlands constituency seat in 2002. The man who quotes biblical verses to stress every point changed religions. From Hindu, Pattni got saved and was baptised as Brother Paul Pattni. He thereafter started his own church. 8. MAINA NJENGA Maina Njenga is the founder of Hope International Ministries Church in Kasarani Estate. The former Mungiki leader of the outlawed Mungiki sect and Cord coalition sympathiser commands a huge following where he charges to perform miracles. Maina Njenga once asked politicians and wealthy businessmen who have been funding and supporting the sect to stop. Njenga, who has bodyguards, has occasionally hosted parties at his palatial residence in Kitengela. 9. PASTOR JAMES MAINA NG’ANG’A He walks around with a gun, and has been photographed drinking something more bitter than peppered soup. A while back, social media went ablaze with accusations that the pastor had bribed policemen to release his dented Prado after a hit and run incident. His miracles are said to cost between Sh3, 000 to Sh50, 000.
Posted on: Mon, 11 Nov 2013 08:12:56 +0000
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