A spirit of friendship, service and shared purpose marked a recent visit by leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to Lamu County, Kenya. Lamu County Governor Issa Abdalla Timamy hosted a Church delegation led by Elder Paul B. Pieper on July 14–15, 2026, to discuss opportunities for collaboration across local communities.
The visit reflected the teaching of Jesus Christ to “love one another” and serve those in need. This principle continues to guide the Church’s efforts to build bridges of understanding and bless communities around the world.
“We are here because we love you,” Elder Pieper shared at Holy Angel Primary School in Lamu, Kenya. “Not just us, but thousands of people behind us, and they want to help too. We want you to study, so you can learn and grow and be strong.”
- Elder-Paul-B.-Pieper,-of-the-Africa-Central-Area-Presidency,-addresses-pupils-and-teachers-at-Holy-Angel-Primary-School-for-the-Disabled-in-Lamu-County-on-14th-July-2026.
- Group-photo-of-Elder-Paul-B.-Pieper-and-others-walking-out-of-airport-arrivals-terminal-in-Lamu,-Kenya-on-July-14,-2026.-
- From-left-Elder-Paul-B.-Pieper-(of-the-Africa-Central-Area-Presidency),-His-Excellency-Issa-Abdalla-Timamy-(Governor-of-Lamu-County),-and-Elder-Johnny-O.-Baddoo-(Area-Seventy,-Africa-Central-Area)-engaged-in-conversation-during-a-courtesy-visit-to-Lamu-County,-Kenya-on-14th-July-2026.
- From-left-Elder-Johnny-O.-Baddoo-(Area-Seventy,-Africa-Central-Area),-Elder-Paul-B.-Pieper-(of-the-Africa-Central-Area-Presidency),-H.E.-Dr.-Mbarak-Mohamed-Bahjaj-(Deputy-Governor-of-Lamu-County),-and-His-Excellency-Issa-Abdalla-Timamy-(Governor-of-Lamu-County),-visited-Lamu-County-Referral-Hospital-in-Lamu-Island-on-14th-July-2026.
- From-left-H.E.-Dr.-Mbarak-Mohamed-Bahjaj-(Deputy-Governor-of-Lamu-County),-His-Excellency-Issa-Abdalla-Timamy-(Governor-of-Lamu-County),-Elder-Paul-B.-Pieper-(Africa-Central-Area-Presidency),-and-Elder-Johnny-O.-Baddoo-(Area-Seventy,-Africa-Central-Area)-receive-an-explanation-of-how-medical-supplies-are-stored-and-distributed-to-Lamu's-health-facilities-by-a-staff-member-from-Mokowe-Hospital-during-a-courtesy-visit-to-Lamu-County,-Kenya-on-14th-July-2026.
| Temple Square is always beautiful in the springtime. Gardeners work to prepare the ground for General Conference. © 2012 Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved. | 1 / 2 |
During the visit, the delegation toured several key institutions, including King Fahd Lamu County Referral Hospital, Mokowe Sub County Hospital, Holy Angel Primary School in Mkunumbi, Hongwe School for the Disabled, Ocean View Primary School, Sinambio Dispensary, and Kiangwe Village. Elder Pieper, accompanied by Elder Johnny O. Baddoo (an Area Seventy) and Church humanitarian staff, also met with county officials responsible for health, education, and water services.
“The whole purpose [of the visit],” said Governor Timamy, “was that I wanted [the Church] to have a feel of Lamu. We are hoping that they will come in and assist us. We are good partners. We don’t just sit and let our partners do everything. We also come in a strong way.”
The warm welcome extended by Governor Timamy and the people of Lamu shows the importance of working together to care for individuals and families. Conversations centered on supporting communities, strengthening essential services and finding sustainable ways to uplift those in need.
- His-Excellency-Issa-Abdalla-Timamy,-Governor-of-Lamu-County-introduces-Elder-Paul-B.-Pieper-(of-the-Africa-Central-Area-Presidency),-Elder-Johnny-O.-Baddoo-(Area-Seventy,-Africa-Central-Area)-and-other-members-from-the-Africa-Central-Area-to-locals-in-Kiangwe-Village-in-Lamu-County-on-15th-July-2026.
- Elder-Paul-B.-Pieper-of-the-Africa-Central-Area-Presidency,-addresses-pupils-and-teachers-of-Hongwe-School-for-the-Disabled-in-Lamu-County-on-15th-July-2026
- Elder-Paul-B.-Pieper-(Africa-Central-Area-Presidency)-is-welcomed-to-Ocean-View-Primary-School-together-with-His-Excellency-Issa-Abdalla-Timamy-(Governor-of-Lamu-County)-and-H.E.-Dr.-Mbarak-Mohamed-Bahjaj-(Deputy-Governor-of-Lamu-County)-on-15th-July-2026
- Far-left-His-Excellency-Issa-Abdalla-Timamy-(Governor-of-Lamu-County),-Elder-Paul-B.-Pieper-(of-the-Africa-Central-Area-Presidency)-(3rd-from-left)-and-Elder-Johnny-O.-Baddoo-(Area-Seventy,-Africa-Central-Area)-(far-right)-are-taken-through-the-dormitories-of-students-in-Hongwe-School-for-the-Disabled-by-Mr.-Hussein-Rhumba-during-a-courtesy-visit-to-Lamu-County,-Kenya-on-15th-July-2026.
- Elder-Paul-B.-Pieper,-of-the-Africa-Central-Area-Presidency-(left),-and-His-Excellency-Issa-Abdalla-Timamy,-Governor-of-Lamu-County,-(right),-are-shown-some-classrooms-by-Mr.-Francis-Njoka,-Headmaster-of-Holy-Angel-Primary-School-at-Mkunumbi-during-a-courtesy-visit-to-Lamu-County,-Kenya-on-14th-July-2026.
| Temple Square is always beautiful in the springtime. Gardeners work to prepare the ground for General Conference. © 2012 Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved. | 1 / 2 |
“Thank you for being here and [for] all that you do,” Elder Pieper said during a visit with staff at the Sinambio Dispensary. “Even though the Church has been in Kenya now since the 1980s, we have not been in Lamu. So, we are very happy to be here.”
As Church and government leaders shared ideas and visited schools and healthcare facilities, they were united by a common desire to serve others with compassion. The visit reinforced the belief that when people come together in a spirit of love and cooperation, they can accomplish great things for their communities.