Kenya’s Christ The Redeemer Statue Offers Spiritual Reflection And Scenic Views
There really is little in common between the expansive seaside metropolis of Brazil’s Rio de Janeiro and Kenya’s Lodwar, the largest town in northwestern Kenya. Small, with little of the razzmatazz of a big city, and tucked in a rather remote corner of the country, Lodwar is a quaint and much lesser known outpost that quietly minds its own business amid its surrounding wilderness.
But as with Rio, Lodwar town has an eye-catching statue of Jesus Christ towering over its residents. Atop a tall hill in one corner of Lodwar stands the statue of Christ the Redeemer, a prominent monument with a spitting resemblance to Rio’s iconic statue with a similar name.
For anyone within Lodwar and its adjacent airstrip, the statue — which stands at 15 feet (about five meters) in height — is hard to miss. It features Jesus Christ dressed in flowing robes with his arms outstretched sideways, a solemn look on his face as he stares over the town.
This gray statue was modeled with concrete and erected by the area’s Catholic community, the Diocese of Lodwar, in 2004. The statue is mounted atop a cylindrical platform built of crude, multi-colored stones and mortar. Sparse thickets scattered amid dark-colored rocks form a rugged carpet around the hill, from where a vibrant choir of birds and critters blend their tunes with the rumbling symphony of the bustling town below.
For someone flying toward Lodwar and onto the airstrip, one gets the impression of a warm welcome by the statue’s inviting stance. The view at the top is spectacular. From here, one gets sweeping scenes of the place, the rugged hills lining the town’s edges and the majestic Turkwell River snaking its way past the town as it journeys towards Lake Turkana.
At night, Christ the Redeemer is faintly visible, illuminated by the riot of multicolored lights from the town below.
An emerging tourist magnet
The statue’s appeal goes beyond its awe-inspiring architectural dimensions and spiritual importance. It has in recent times emerged as a charming tourist magnet — especially during Easter — and iconic landmark of the town.
“I think this is a wonderful place to visit, not only to see beautiful things,” American tourist Luke Tim told a local TV station while visiting the statue. “The people here are lovely. We just began to fall in love with the people of Lodwar, and loved the town so much.”
A hike up the rocky, winding path ascending the peak of the hill is now among the top items on many people’s bucket lists as they visit Lodwar. It would take about 30 minutes to walk from Lodwar town to the statue. For some, the hike is a moment of reflection and prayer, taking one up a winding flight of stairs built of stone and mortar.
The Christ the Redeemer statue marks the final stage in a Way of the Cross, a 14-point pilgrimage which signifies Christ’s Passion, which starts at the foot of the hill. Along the way of the cross are miniature statues reliving the Passion story on his way to Calvary, with inspirational messages inscribed on each.
In one of the stations, a frail Christ is depicted lumbering under the weight of his cross, with Veronica kneeling before him with a garment. An inscription etched on the base of the stone sculpture describes this pivotal moment in Christ’s torturous trip to Calvary: “Veronica wipes the face of Jesus Christ.”
Part of the foothills adjoining the tarmac road is known as Jubilee Centre and forms the headquarters of the Catholic Diocese of Lodwar, which includes Our Lady of Immaculate Conception Shrine.
‘Element of pilgrimage’
Many other visitors take the hike for the sheer thrill of ascending to this masterpiece and enjoying the breathtaking views of the town below. A photo taken of the statue is one of Lodwar’s most-prized Instagram mementos. Local and international tourists have ardently been trooping to view this photogenic masterpiece.
“You know, with regard to shrines, there’s an element of pilgrimage, and people want to punish themselves a little bit or to do a little bit of penance,” said Father Desmond Miller, a Catholic priest based in Lodwar. “So, they climb up and climb down. Then there are other people who just come and take photos and more photos.”
Bishop Dominic Kimengich, who at the time of the statue’s construction served as a bishop in the Catholic Diocese of Lodwar, acknowledged that Africa’s version of the statue was inspired by Brazil’s more famous art deco Cristo Redentor. Nonetheless, there have been some important visitors over the years, including former President Barack Obama and his family in 2011.
“Indeed, that was the inspiration,” Kimengich said, adding that the Lodwar statue is a “bit smaller” than the one in Rio, which is 98-feet (30 meters) tall. “The idea was borne in 2011, and the way of the cross was made to represent the trial and tribulations Jesus Christ underwent before he was nailed on the cross.”
For locals and those touring Lodwar alike, the statue’s size doesn’t really matter. Christ the Redeemer stands as a symbol of divine protection, an assuring face that lovingly looks over the world amid the exertions of life in this far-flung, dusty town.
Joseph Maina is a Kenyan journalist. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism and media studies from the University of Nairobi. For the past decade, he has served as a correspondent for various print and digital publications in his native Kenya, Rwanda and South Africa.