Church of Latter-day Saints appoints new leader for Africa

The Church of Jesus Latter-Day Saints Regional office in Nairobi. [Courtey]

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has appointed Ian S Ardern as president of the Africa Central Area, which has Kenya in its jurisdiction.

The appointment marks the third time at the helm for the 69-year-old Elder of the church, whose roots are in the US. Ardern is assisted by First Counselor Thierry K Mutombo, and Second Counselor Paul B Pieper.

"The work of the Lord rolls forward through the effort of his faithful disciples. I count myself as one of those faithful disciples and with so many others in the Africa Central Area, I am committed to building up the Church, and teaching and testifying of Jesus Christ as the saviour of the world," said Ardern after the appointment

The Africa Central Area has 17 countries, with most of the area's 180,000 members living in various African countries including the Democratic Republic of Congo (63 per cent) Uganda (13 per cent), Kenya (11 per cent), and Congo (7 per cent).