Kenya is home to thousands of churches, with the number of registered churches crossing over 4,000.
These churches are spread across various parts of the country and include a variety of denominations such as the Roman Catholic, Anglican, Methodist, Baptist, and Pentecostal churches.
In a bid to regulate the institutions, the government announced that churches will be required to file their annual financial returns with audited accounts for the financial year.
The churches also give a declaration of the assets and liabilities, and bank statements of all accounts.
Some of the popular churches in the country have declared their income for the financial years ranging from 2022 and 2024, including income from tithes and offerings.
Among the top richest churches are:
- Christ is the Answer Ministries (CITAM)
CITAM declared an income of Sh2.4 billion for the financial year 2024, representing a 4 percent increase from the Sh2.3 billion posted in 2023.
Income from CITAM’s business units saw a 14 percent increase, rising to Sh894 million in 2024, up from Sh782 million in 2023, after accounting for inter-unit sales.
CITAM’s investments span various sectors including education, hospitality, real estate, and communication.
The Church owns at least ten primary schools spread across Athi River, Rongai, Thika Road, Kisumu, Nakuru, Ngong’, Kiserian, and Woodley.
It also owns the Pan Africa Christian (PAC) University and has heavily invested in rental properties. In 2021, it raked in Sh6.2 million in rental income.
Among the hotels operated by the church include CITAM Kadolta Resort in Kitengela, which includes accommodation, conference facilities, a restaurant, a swimming pool, camping, and team building facilities.
In communication, CITAM is associated with Hope Media, which operates broadcast media Hope FM and Hope TV. The church has 33 branches in Kenya.
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- Nairobi Chapel
Nairobi Chapel, which operates 33 branches across the country, saw tithes and offerings rise from Sh648.7 million in 2022 to Sh747.2 million in 2023.
According to the financial statement, the income comprised tithes and offerings, interest received, gifts and partnership support, and donations in kind.
“The income recorded in the financial year 2023 is Sh747,242,356 and an expenditure of Sh644,555,396, giving a surplus of Sh102,686,960. This income, compared to that of the previous year 2022, represents a 15 percent growth while the expenditure also went up by 16 percent,” the financial statement reads.
3. Mavuno Church
The church registered an income of Sh289.1 million for the financial year ending December 2022, an increase from Sh219.9 million reported in 2021.
4. Karura Community Chapel
Karura Community Chapel’s income for the financial year 2022 stood at Sh186.6 million, rising to Sh215.8 million in 2023 and Sh222.3 million in 2024.
5. All Saints Cathedral
The largest Anglican church in Kenya reported an increase in income from tithes and offerings from Sh193 million in 2023 to Sh196.1 million in 2024.
