Desperate Nairobians trooping to churches in search of ‘miracles’

Many say that the high cost of living and the vagaries of Nairobi life have pushed them to the church.

Nairobi estates are relatively quiet on Sundays – and that’s because most of the residents have gone to church to confess, worship, give thanks and seek solutions to their life challenges.

The only 'noise' one gets to hear is that of beautiful music coming from different churches – welcoming congregants through their gates.

Some of the churches look grand, others, especially in the slums, are made of cluttered makeshift structures that appear to have been erected in a hurry.

According to the 2019 Population Census conducted in Kenya, over 85 percent of the population identified as Christians, among which 33.4 percent were Protestants, 20.6 percent Catholics, 20.4 percent Evangelicals, nearly 11 percent identified as Muslim and seven percent from African Instituted Churches.

Residents who spoke to Wananchi Reporting said they are rushing to church to find ‘solutions’ to their problems.

Many are chasing that one miracle – a difficult race of hope many residents of Nairobi continue to run albeit with a tight purse.

The sick, the jobless and the disillusioned of Nairobi are moving from one church to the other looking for a miracle.

Others come to these churches through referrals – but for others it’s a game of trial and error; more like shooting in the dark and hoping for a miracle.

The crippled, the sick, the dumb and the blind can be seen coming in through the gates every Sunday – either on their own or with an aide.

“Many people come here in search of healing. Others just need jobs,” says Jacob Wafula who operates a bodaboda near a church in Nairobi Eastlands area.

According to Jacob, this is a common scene every Sunday.

“Sometime by 8am the church is already full to the brim. It’s like more and more people are now coming to church,” he says.

“I hear that the church is already working on expanding its building to accommodate more people,” he says.

At the end of the church service, mothers can be seen carrying their ailing children on their backs, as they walk out of the church.

Looking at their faces one can tell that many of them will be making the same journey come next Sunday.

A few give up – or move to other churches in search of hope.

Mama Hellen from Kayole is among thousands of residents of Nairobi who don’t miss church on Sundays.

She goes to church with her entire brood; four children and a house help.

The single mother says she is jobless – and has been attending these special prayers at her church hoping for a miracle.

“I trust that I will get a job. I have been tithing and giving offerings every Sunday to have my path opened,” says an enthusiastic Mama Hellen.

Hellen lost her job at a Nairobi factory at the height of Covid-19 pandemic.

She says that her pastor has helped many people – and that her turn will come. Meanwhile, she has to continue to give tithes and offerings.