Beyond the Altar: 10 Expensive Properties Owned by the Catholic Church in Kenya

There are about 24 dioceses and archdioceses, hundreds of parishes, major universities, schools, hospitals, media stations, and commercial enterprises that belong to the catholic church in Kenya.

In this article, Wok features 10 expensive properties owned by the catholic church in Kenya.

Located along Kaunda Street in Nairobi’s Central Business District, Cardinal Otunga Plaza is one of the most expensive investments that belong to the Catholic Church.

The plaza is a 10-storey building that was officially opened in August 2013. It houses the Archdiocese of Nairobi’s administrative offices, among other tenants.

Father Simon Ng’ang’a, the financial administrator of the Archdiocese of Nairobi, revealed in 2021 that approximately Sh916 million had been invested in constructing the plaza.

The building is named after the late Cardinal Maurice Otunga.

Another of the catholic church’s iconic commercial investments is an underground parking located below the Holy Family Basilica building in Nairobi.

The four-level underground parking was opened in 2019 and was designed to accommodate 536 vehicles. The entire project cost about sh 959 million.

According to Caritas Nairobi, the parking uses an automated payment system and was designed to generate additional revenue for the archdiocese.

It was designed to address the shortage of parking spaces in Nairobi CBD.

The Catholic Diocese of Kakamega owns the iconic Cathedral Mall, which is located near St Joseph’s Cathedral along the Kakamega–Webuye highway.

The shopping mall, which was opened in 2023, hosts several businesses, including a supermarket.

According to the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops, the mall was developed with the goal of generating revenue and reducing the diocese’s reliance on foreign donors.

Bishop Joseph Obanyi also explained that the purpose of the investment was to provide financial stability for the church.

The bishops’ conference later reported that the property had reached 62% occupancy.

The Catholic Archdiocese of Nyeri owns Nyaatha Plaza, a seven-storey commercial building located on Kimathi Way in Nyeri Town.

The building was opened in 2024, having been completed in about 17 months. Its tenants include shops and banks such as I&M and Caritas Microfinance.

According to the Archdiocese of Nyeri, the fourth and fifth floors of the plaza were designed for Airbnb accommodation, while the sixth and seventh floors provide residential space.

The Catholic Diocese of Eldoret invested approximately Sh420 million to construct St John Amani Centre.

The project is an eight-storey commercial building which is located within the Sacred Heart Cathedral compound.

It was designed to provide rental space and generate income for diocesan activities such as retreats, seminars, and training workshops.

Pacis Centre, situated along Waiyaki Way, is a six-storey office building that was developed through Catholic-associated Pacis Insurance.

The building was opened in 2013, with its construction cost estimated to be KES 400 million.

According to Construction Kenya, Pacis Centre features commercial office spaces, basement parking for approximately 50 vehicles, as well as rooftop facilities.

Cardinal John Njue said that the investment was part of efforts to make the Catholic Church financially self-reliant.

Although the Catholic Diocese of Maralal serves communities in northern Kenya, it owns an eight-storey commercial building which is located in Nairobi’s Hurlingham area.

Known as Maralal Oasis, the building stands at the junction of Rose Avenue and Argwings Kodhek Road.

It was officially inaugurated in September 2022.

Some of the businesses located in the building include Deli Mwitu Restaurant, The Clan Suites, as well as other shops, gyms, and executive offices.

The Catholic Diocese of Marsabit owns Marsabit Plaza, which is located along Ngong Road, opposite Ligi Ndogo.

The building hosts at least 50 offices, 42 retail shops, restaurants, 107 parking bays, and service businesses

It is located in proximity to Prestige Plaza, Adams Arcade, and Junction Mall.

Waumini House, located on Waiyaki Way in Westlands, is the crown jewel of the Catholic church’s properties in Kenya.

The building serves as the headquarters of the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) and the Kenya Catholic Secretariat.

Waumini House is also the national coordination centre for Catholic education, health, justice, peace, communications, humanitarian, and social-development programs in Kenya.

The Catholic Diocese of Embu also owns Waumini Plaza, a commercial building which houses Mathai Supermarket Post Bank and other businesses in Embu town.

The building was developed during the tenure of the first Bishop of Embu, John Cardinal Njue.

In June 2025, Waumini Plaza attracted national attention when it was vandalised during demonstrations marking the anniversary of the anti-Finance Bill protests.

Aside from Waumini Plaza, the Diocese of Embu runs over 230 educational institutions as well as various healthcare facilities, including Consolata Hospital in Kyeni.

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