Who We Are

In 2005, David Kalua established St. Stephen’s Ministries, inspired by the resilience of the biblical martyr, St. Stephen faced fierce opposition from religious leaders, ultimately sacrificing his life under a hail of stones. Yet, his ministry lived on, undeterred by his death. This powerful legacy of resilience inspired Kalua, who envisioned a ministry built on unyielding faith and strength. Starting from his home, St. Stephen’s Ministries began to take form, a vision that soon led to the construction of St. Stephen’s Unyaa Church later that same year.

Over the next fifteen years, St. Stephen’s Ministries expanded in ways Bishop David Kalua could never have foreseen.

In 2006, just a year after the mother church was founded in Unyaa, the Tiva Church opened its doors in the small town of Tiva, about thirty kilometers from Kitui town. Six years later, in March 2012, another branch was established in Uae, a remote area in the Mutomo region of Kitui South constituency. The ministry’s fourth branch followed a year later in Lema, a town in neighboring Machakos County, marking St. Stephen’s first reach beyond Kitui. This expansion laid the groundwork for additional branches, with the fifth church founded in 2014 in Kavingo, Kitui South. A year later, the sixth branch opened in Kyuasini, also in Kitui. After a five-year gap, the ministry established its seventh branch in Kawuongo, once again in Kitui County.

Fifteen years after its inception, St. Stephen’s Ministries had grown to include seven branches, all located in rural areas. This was a deliberate choice, as the ministry aimed to reach underserved communities, offering them a reliable fellowship for their physical and spiritual needs.