Recently, LDS Charities and Public Affairs missionaries met with the Honorable Tim Wanyonyi, a Member of Parliament in the Republic of Kenya. Mr. Wanyonyi received them in his Westlands Nairobi office. His constituency is located within the boundaries of the Westlands and Mountain View congregations of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Nairobi Kenya Stake. A discussion was held about possible partnerships with ongoing projects that LDS Charities has in the Nairobi suburbs.
The Honorable Wanyonyi has been a member of Parliament since 2013. He is currently serving as Secretary of Legal and Constitutional Affairs in the government and was an attorney by profession before his political career.
During the meeting, LDS Charities missionaries discussed possible projects to include donation of desks, cabinets and tables for schools located in the Kangemi Slum area in Nairobi. A great need for this kind of help was noted by Mr. Wanyonyi. Also discussed was the ongoing need for wheelchairs and eye care in his constituency. The program of Mormon Helping Hands was explained to Mr. Wanyonyi. He showed great interest in partnering with the Church in future clean-up and community repair.
LDS Charities has had a long history of helping Kenya with water projects, wheel chairs delivery, polio vaccine initiative, eye glass projects, food and farming projects and helping Kenyans in general become more self-reliant. Public Affairs missionaries continued dialog on several doctrines of the Church that may be mis-understood by the general population. It was explained to Mr. Wanyonyi that the Church's young missionary force is there to teach people the basic principle that families are an important and basic part of society, and that Latter-day Saints believe the teachings of Jesus Christ can bring peace and happiness to all people.