MAI MAHIU, KENYA — Nestled among the awe-inspiring hills of the Great Rift Valley is Mai Mahiu Catholic Church, believed to be among Africa’s smallest, and this Monday it will be flooded with worshippers in light of the arrival of Pope Leo XIV on his first-ever tour of Africa.
At 15 by 8 feet, seating only 12 people, the chapel, or ‘Travellers Chapel’, was built by Italian prisoners of war in 1942. The prisoners were transferred from Somalia to Kenya by the British Army during World War II. They built the church to observe their religion in an area that is mainly Protestant.
In the chapel, there are simple wooden benches, together with images of the Virgin Mary and Jesus Christ, surrounded by the Latin phrase “This is the victory that has overcome the world, our faith.” The little chapel offers a sanctuary for individuals like Michael Mwangi. “I feel at ease discussing things with God when I am not around other people,” he commented. “This place has really done wonders for me since the day I came here in 2024.”
Though the Pope’s current schedule includes visits to Algeria, Cameroon, Angola, and Equatorial Guinea, there is no mention of Kenya, which is a concern for many religious followers, such as caretaker Hannah Nyakio, who wishes the Pope would visit Kenya and pray. “It would be great if the Pope came here to Kenya and prayed,” she mentioned.
High optimism continues to prevail among members of Nairobi’s religious communities, especially following Kenya’s recent announcement to establish a national embassy in Vatican City. Since Kenya has already welcomed several papal visits, the latest being Pope Francis in 2015, the Catholics of Kenya regard the Mai Mahiu chapel as much more than a historic site.
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