Holy Family Minor Basilica

It was established by the Holy Ghost Missionaries (now also known as the Spiritan Fathers). This first church was built under the administration of Brother Josaphat, C.S.S.P (Holy Ghost Missionary) who had been entrusted with the building of the church.

It was first stone building in Nairobi. It had a sitting capacity of 300-400 people. At that time, it was a gigantic building compared to the shacks in the surrounding. It had a green corrugated iron roofing spire.

The idea to construct the current Church was driven by two main needs; first to build a church that could cater for the increasing number of worshipers. And second, to build a cathedral for the Archdiocese of Nairobi to serve as the Archbishop’s seat. Remember on 25 March 1953 the Archdiocese of Nairobi was promoted as Metropolitan Archdiocese of Nairobi.

The foundation stone for the current church as it stands was officially laid on 29 June 1960 by the First Archbishop of Archdiocese of Nairobi, John Joseph ‘J. J’.  McCarthy, during the Feast of Saints Peter & Paul. The construction was completed in 1963. The new church was blessed and officially opened on Saturday 6 July 1963. Construction of phase one, which comprised of the concrete shell and the roof commenced in July 1960 and cost £75,000. The initial phase one cost had been estimated to be £60,000 and was completed in October 1961.

A Parish and a Cathedral in the Archdiocese of Nairobi. Located in the heart of CBD Nairobi near GPO, City Hall, KICC, Parliament, Intercontinental Hotel.

Parking, Adoration Chapel, Catholic Bookshop, Office Blocks, School