DNK International By Our Reporter,Nairobi
Teresia Wairimu Kinyanjui, widely known as Evangelist Teresa Wairimu, remains one of Kenya’s most influential Pentecostal preachers.
Her ministry has spanned more than three decades and shaped the country’s charismatic Christian movement.
She was born on November 15, 1957 in Waithaka, Nairobi.
The 68 year old cleric grew up in a prominent family as the second child of Njeri Kinuthia and Kinuthia Kinyanjui, whose lineage traces back to Paramount Chief Kinyanjui wa Gathirimu.
She attended Mukarara Primary School before proceeding to Ngiriambu Girls’ High School in Kirinyaga County, and later trained and worked as a kindergarten teacher,a role that sharpened her communication and mentoring skills long before she stepped onto the national religious stage.
A few years ago she told Daily News Kenya-International that her spiritual journey took a decisive turn in 1977 when she committed her life to Christianity.
However it was in 1985, following what she describes as a powerful divine encounter, that she embraced full-time ministry.
In 1989, she founded Faith Evangelistic Ministries (FEM), beginning with small house fellowship meetings that rapidly expanded into large revival gatherings.
She made history as the first woman in Kenya to hold consistent open air revival services at Nairobi’s Uhuru Park, drawing tens of thousands in the 1990s and cementing her place as a pioneer of large scale evangelical crusades in the country.
Today, FEM has grown into an international ministry with branches across Kenya, including Mombasa, Nakuru and Kutus as well as extensions in the United States and the United Kingdom.
The ministry reports more than 20,000 partners globally, with its Nairobi headquarters serving as a central hub for worship, leadership training and outreach.
Beyond preaching, Wairimu has overseen humanitarian programs focused on orphan support, feeding initiatives, vocational empowerment and peace building efforts during times of national tension.
Her teachings emphasize on faith, prayer, healing and the principle of “seed planting,” encouraging believers to combine spiritual devotion with generosity and disciplined living.
Over the years, congregants have testified to miracles ranging from healings to financial breakthroughs during her revival services, accounts that have strengthened her following while also attracting scrutiny from critics skeptical of charismatic claims.
Nevertheless, she remains steadfast in her message, often declaring that “faith is the bridge between where you are and where God wants you to be.”
Among the Scriptures she frequently references is Hebrews 11:1 — “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen”, a verse that mirrors her ministry’s central theme.
Wairimu is also an author, best known for her book A Cactus in the Desert, which chronicles her personal and spiritual journey.
Her public influence has occasionally intersected with politics.
Kenyan leaders, including President William Ruto and First Lady Rachel Ruto, have attended services at her church.
While she has publicly critiqued governance issues such as corruption and leadership accountability, she maintains that her role is spiritual rather than political, often stating that she prays for national leaders regardless of party affiliation and seeks unity over division.
Despite moments of controversy surrounding prosperity teachings and public commentary, Wairimu’s impact on Kenya’s religious landscape is undeniable.
From modest beginnings in a house fellowship to leading a global ministry, her journey reflects resilience, boldness and an unwavering conviction in the power of faith.
As she continues preaching into her late sixties, Evangelist Teresia Wairimu remains a commanding voice in Kenya’s evangelical movement, a preacher whose story is inseparable from the evolution of modern Pentecostal Christianity in the region.
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🗓️ [DNK-International@February 15,2026]
