Viewpoint

Chinese Firms Now Building Mega Churches in Kenya

Chinese companies are increasingly building churches across the country.

Updated on

October 5, 2011

Luther Plaza Nairobi. — Luther Plaza was built by a Chinese company. PHOTO | FILE

As China continues to dominate the local construction industry, Chinese companies seem to have discovered a lucrative business opportunity – a church-building business.

In the past few years, Chinese companies have dominated the local construction industry, having won many contracts with the Kenyan government.

This dominance has elicited protests among local contractors who blame the government for giving too tough conditions during the tendering of projects.

To avoid provoking local contractors who might incite boycotts, Chinese firms are now focusing on less contentious projects, such as constructing churches across Kenya.

The Chinese have grabbed construction jobs occupied in the past by companies from nations that had sent missionaries to Africa.

At the Holy Family Basilica Cathedral in Nairobi, for example, Zhongxing Construction Company of China is building a 10-floor office block for the Nairobi Archdiocese. The firm is also credited with the construction of the Faith Evangelistic Ministries church in Karen.

Another Chinese firm Fubeco Ltd is building the Catholic Church of Our Lady of the Rosary in Kiambu County. The company had earlier built Luther Plaza along Nyerere Road, the headquarters of the Lutheran Church of Kenya.

These are just but a few of the churches being put up by Chinese firms countrywide.

However, China’s zeal to build churches in Kenya – and Africa in general – raises the big question: Is China slowly turning Christian? This is inconceivable, especially for an officially-atheist country that does not permit religious affairs.

Interestingly, China is now home to the world’s largest Bible factory – capable of producing 12 million copies a year or one copy per second in 90 languages including Swahili.

Only time will tell, but the future of Christianity may as well lie in the East. Moreover, perhaps China sincerely wants to put Africa closer to God.