All of the children of the Precious Kids Center have different stories, yet they each share a common thread: because they were different, they were neglected, mistreated, even abused. In our Home, all of their differences are left at the door and they are welcomed with love and acceptance. Their suffering has been great, but their joy is also boundless.
Each child is a blessing to our household and fills it with laughter and love. Take a moment to read through their stories.
Isaac Wafula
Name: Isaac Wafula
March 2006-November 2017
Medical Condition: Hydrocephalus, Cerebral Palsy
We met Isaac through one of the occupational therapists that work at the District Hospital in town. He had heard about the organization that we were trying to start up and he called us to come and meet a boy who really needed help. The second that we saw Isaac we knew that he was a perfect fit for the house and the more we heard about his story the more our hearts broke. Isaac was diagnosed with hydrocephalus when he was 2 months old and had an operation to put a shunt in place that would drain the excess fluid from his brain. His parents acted fast when the problem started and found a clinic that provides free life-saving surgeries for children. Isaac’s dad, Peter, loves his son dearly but struggled to provide for him. When Isaac was one year old his mother abandoned Isaac and the rest of her family and they have never heard from her again. So Peter, who most likely has some cognitive delays himself, was left to take care of Isaac and his two other children on his own. Because there was no mother around to care for Isaac he would lie on the dark floor of their mud hut all day without any food. His father had to go to work to provide for his family and the other two kids went to school, so Isaac was left all alone. There was no extra money to pay for physical therapy so over the years Isaac’s muscles had become very stiff. Isaac was also severely malnourished when he came to live at the house, but now you wouldn’t even know he was the same kid. He grew at least two or three inches in the first eight months that he was at the house. His appetite improved and his muscles started to loosen up so he is able to do some movements on his own. Isaac still cannot sit without support or talk, but he is one happy little boy. He pays attention to everything that his going on around the house and is always the first to laugh when something funny happens.
After battling sickness for a long time, he passed away in November 2017. He was such a sweet little guy and we were lucky to have 5 years with him.
See all stories about Isaac here.
Cyril Nelima
Name: Cyril Nelima
DOB: 1998
Medical Condition: Cerebral Palsy
2018
We met Cyril one day walking through one of the slums. She was in bad shape so we took her to the hospital to be treated. She had malaria and typhoid on top of having cerebral palsy and her high fever was causing her to have seizures. She was also severely malnourished and her legs were red, cracked and swollen which was so painful that she was unable to walk. We started off supporting her from her home because we met her before we were ready to open the house. Her mother was overwhelmed. She had a one-year-old with Down Syndrome and was eight months pregnant. Her current husband is not Cyril’s father, which often means that the step-child is mistreated, plus the fact that Cyril has a disability, he made her life hard. We saw Cyril and our hearts broke. She is one of God’s beautiful children. She is so full of joy and often just laughs seeming without a reason. It is encouraging to think about where Cyril was when we took her and where she is now. She has come so far and we are blessed to have been part of that journey.
See all stories about Cyril here.
Lavender Noel Ndiema
Name: Lavender Noel Ndiema
DOB: 2006
Medical Condition: Cerebral Palsy
When we first opened the home we had some difficulties finding children for the house. We knew there were many that were in need, but because of the culture here, many children with disabilities are often hidden away at home because they are seen as a curse. So we started meeting with the area chiefs, who are in charge of knowing the population and what goes on in their assigned areas. We met Lavender at a meeting with the chief of an area just outside of town called Rafiki. Lavender’s family fled from Mount Elgon to Kitale during the post-election violence and had trouble getting back on their feet after that. A few months before we met Lavender her father, Samuel, went to Sudan to find work and never came back. So her mother, Christine, was left alone to care for her three girls. Christine struggled to make ends meet by working on local farms for less than a dollar a day. Only one of her girls went to school because she needed one of them to stay home to care for Lavender. Lavender has cerebral palsy but has made great improvements since she moved in and began doing physical therapy. Her strength has improved and she can now sit on her own. Her fine motor skills have improved and she is excited to be starting school. She is such a joy to have in the house. She has a great little sense of humor and loves making other people laugh. She is a talkative little girl who loves to color and play with her favorite doll that she named Stella.
See all stories about Lavender here.
Daniel Wekesa
Name: Daniel Wekesa
DOB: 2007
Medical Condition: Autism, Epilepsy
I met Dan at a Medical Outreach Clinic that I went to with a team that was visiting. His mother just wanted some help and some answers about what she could do to help her son. He has Autism and does not walk on his own or communicate verbally. He has no problem with his hands or legs but has some sensory issues that keep from him walking and being able to do things like feed himself. After meeting Dan and talking to his mother I took her phone number and told her that I would be coming to visit her soon. When I tried to call her phone, it was disconnected and I didn’t know where she lived. Then one day I was at the District Hospital and I ran into Dan’s mom. She told me that Dan had been hospitalized the month before and was being treated for meningitis, epilepsy, and malaria. Evelyne, Dan’s mom, is such a sweet woman. She loves Dan with all her heart and knows what is best for him. She is always joyful, even when she has every reason not to be. She is a widow, left to care for Dan plus six other children on her own. When we were ready to add another child we knew that Dan was the perfect fit. Dan is learning to respond to his name and loves spending time in his standing aide. He is an easy going little guy and loves looking at lights, especially the ones that we put up for Christmas.
See all stories about Dan here.
Samuel Barasa
Name: Samuel Barasa
DOB: 2007
Medical Condition: Dwarfism
2018
Everyday to get from my house to town we take the same road. Every day we saw a sweet little boy watching and waiting for my car to go past and instantly his hand would shoot up into the air and he would start waving. One day we went to go talk to his mother. She works across the street at a warehouse for a large supermarket in town and she would leave her son, Sammy, across the street with some ladies that had little stores. They would make sure that he was safe during the day. Sammy’s mother treated him as a burden rather than the blessing that he is. He has no developmental delays but has stunted growth due to dwarfism. He has such a great heart and loves to play with all the other kids at the house. He is always the first to look out for the other kids in the house and accepts everyone at the house as they are. He loves playing with his toy cars and kicking the soccer ball in the backyard. Not to mention he has a great sense of humor and an even better laugh, he lights up the house daily with his joy.
See all stories about Sammy here.
Willy Nyongesa Martin
Name: Willy Nyongesa Martin
DOB: 2003
Medical Condition: Epilepsy, Cognitive Impairments
2018
We first met Willy shortly after his father had abandoned him at the District Hospital when we went to meet some kids that were going to live in another children’s home. We got a call from the social worker from the District Hospital that there was a child who had been abandoned there in January. The staff at the District Hospital has been known to lie about children being abandoned simply to get them out of the wards, so when we heard about Willy the first time, we met him but didn’t take the nurses seriously. As soon as we got the call that day, we both had a feeling that we would meet Willy a second time and knew that, if it was him, we had to get him out of the hospital and into a safe, loving home. Sure enough, they took us straight to Willy. He has severe epilepsy and currently takes 3 medications daily (phenytoin, phenobarbital, and clomazapine) to control his seizures. His seizures are violent and throw him back if he is sitting or standing. Because of many years of having seizures on a daily basis and hitting his head often, Willy has some cognitive impairments. His speech and processing are slower than normal. After four months of struggling to find the right medication, we finally found a combination that keeps his seizures under control. Along with his daily medication he also wears a helmet to protect his brain from further damage if he were to fall from a seizure. Willy is an active little guy that loves to play outside. He loves playing with cars, playing with his friends at the house, and singing.
See all stories about Willy here.
Bramwel Wekesa
Name: Bramwel Wekesa
DOB: December 15, 2005
Medical Condition: Down Syndrome
2018
From the first time I met Bramwel I knew he was supposed to come to live at the house. When I walked in, he instantly curled up on my lap and just sat quietly as we talked to his mother. Bramwel is one of seven children, his parents were struggling to provide for such a big family. When we went to visit Bramwel we found him and three of his siblings eating out of one small bowl of food. When he was eating dinner on his first night at the house he looked up at me and said, “At home we don’t eat.” It broke my heart and I was so thankful that God has given me so much support that such sweet boys like Bramwel can get the care they need. Bramwel is another active little boy. His best friend at the house is Willy and the two are nearly inseparable and love playing outside together.
See all stories about Bramwel here.
Allan Wafula
Name: Allan Wafula
DOB: 2003
Medical Condition: Cerebral Palsy
2018
We met Allan at a meeting with the area chief of Waitaluk. He had been living with his grandmother since he was two years old because his mother had been neglecting him. His grandmother was a sweet woman, who also has a lot on her plate. Not only was she responsible for providing and caring for Allan, but also for his mother and grandmother. One look at Allan’s sweet smile and we knew he would be a welcomed addition to the house. Even though he never received physical therapy before he came to the house, he is a strong little guy. He can’t walk on his own, but he crawls around and gets everywhere he was to go. He can speak, but his speech is slowed and a little difficult to understand at times. The challenges that he has don’t hinder him or steal his joy at all. He loves when the other boys push him around in his wheelchair to help him gain strength in his legs to be able to walk in his own. He is a smart little boy and loves being in school. He is currently in first grade and is making huge improvements.
See all stories about Allan here.
Emmanuel Koech
Name: Emmanuel Koech
DOB: 2006
Medical Condition: Cerebral Palsy
2018
We got a call from the Children’s Officer of Kitale saying that they had some children that they wanted us to help. Lillian and Emmanuel had been staying at a home in Nakuru town that had been shut down because they were mistreating the children they were supposed to be caring for. We were told that Emmanuel was abandoned at a local hospital and then was taken in to live at this other home. Emmanuel was malnourished and also suffering from rickets, iron deficiency, malaria and typhoid on top of his disability. He has one arm that doesn’t move the way that it should, and Lillian told us that it was because one of the staff members at the other home threw him onto the bed, dislocating his shoulder and elbow and it was never treated. Even though he can’t walk on his own, he is an active and energetic little guy. You will find him sitting and scooting around the house, or lying on his back or stomach and scooting around the hallway. Whichever way he is set down, he just starts going. He can only say a few words, but he understands everything that he is told and loves to laugh.
See all stories about Emmanuel here.
Lillian Kajwang
Name: Lillian Kajwang
DOB: 2002
Medical Condition: Spina Bifida, amputee
2018
We got a call from the Children’s Officer of Kitale saying that they had some children that they wanted us to help. Lillian and Emmanuel had been staying at a home in Nakuru town that had been shut down because they were mistreating the children they were supposed to be caring for. Lillian had lived at the home as long as she could remember. She has no cognitive impairments but has some medical issues due to her spina bifida. She used to walk with crutches because her left leg was amputated just below the knee, but we were able to get her fitted with a prosthesis and are thrilled to see her walking–and running–around the house. She has adjusted well to living in a safe place. At the other home, she was responsible for a lot of the caregiving and chores that the staff should have been taking care of. In 2017, due to complications of her spina bifida, she developed a wound on her right heel that eventually led to an amputation at the knee.
She is a sweet girl and watches out for her “brother” Manu. She is a smart little girl with a giving heart. She helps out without being asked and works very hard in school.
See all stories about Lillian here.
Franco Wanjohi
Name: Franco Wanjohi
DOB: 2005
2018
I met Franco in 2011 when he was living in the slums with his parents. His mother has some cognitive impairments and his dad is always sick and unable to work. Franco was so skinny and small, but always had a big smile on his face. So when the opportunity came, I took him to school at Purpose Driven Academy. During Christmas break, he had nowhere else to go so he came to stay with us for the month. When we decided to open up a school at the house, Franco stayed and became part of the family. In 2015, he joined the other “big kids” as we call them at Greenfields Primary. He is a bright little boy and is very patient with the other kids. He loves playing on the swings in the backyard and listening to music.
See all stories about Franco here.
Marvelous Achieng
Marvelous Achieng
DOB: 2009
2018
Marvelous was living with her Aunt in an area called Endebes. Her mother left her when she was under a year old, along with her two other siblings and disappeared. (She has some mental health issues and is unable to care for her children.) When I met Marvelous she was malnourished. Her Aunt is HIV+ and we went to visit her because we heard that she was sick. We found Marvelous starving and crying; she hadn’t eaten in three days. After we opened the house we moved her in and she is doing great. She is such a smart little girl. She loves to play and dance and practice her English with visitors.
See all stories about Marvelous here.
Julius Kawesa
Julius Kawesa
DOB: October 2011
Medical Conditions: Microcephally, Cerebral Palsy, Epillepsy, Nuerological Gastroparesis, Hydrocephalus
We met Julius at District Hospital where he was admitted because he was malnourished and he also had Tuberculosis and Meningitis. He was in bad shape and we were heartbroken to see a child suffering so greatly. When we heard his story our hearts broke even more. His mother gave birth to him at the hospital, then left him there alone. She told his father that the baby died and then she disappeared. After 5 months, one of his father’s neighbors went to the hospital to visit a patient and saw Julius there. His father picked him up and took him home, but struggled to provide for him, which is how he became sick. His father is very young and didn’t have the support of his family. After we took him into the house, his past health problems brought on more medical issues. Julius developed a complication of Meningitis called Hydrocephalus. When it started, the area of his brain that controls the digestive process was affected. Because of all of his medical issues, he is unable to sit on his own or talk, and most other milestones are delayed. He doesn’t smile and he doesn’t cry when he feels pain. He is a special little boy who is very loved by the house moms and other children. Please keep him in your prayers.
See all stories about Julius here.
Japheth Nakoche
Japheth Nakoche
DOB: 2011
Medical Condition: Autism
2018
One day, we got a phone call asking us to visit a kid and we met Japheth. He was living with his father, his stepmother and half-sister. Japheth was crying behind the curtain in their house. The changed him and brought him out to meet us. He was agitated and malnourished. We noticed his half-sister was healthy and happy, while Japheth was being neglected. We talked to his father about how to give him proper care and support. Then the next month we went to do one of our regular visits to the District Hospital and found Japheth there. His stepmother had taken hot porridge right off of the stove and gave it to Japheth, burning his mouth and causing him to lose even more weight (because of the pain in his mouth he didn’t want to eat.) After he moved into the house we noticed that he frequently vomits after eating. We took him to get X-rays of his abdomen and an endoscopy and they said that he has some reflux. They suspect that his mother put bleach into the hot porridge, causing damage to his esophagus. Despite all he has been through, Japheth is a sweet boy. He is so full of joy and is content by himself, but loves when the other kids play with him. He doesn’t walk or talk, but he can sit on his own. He loves to giggle to himself and clap his hands and is becoming more and more aware of what is going on around him. It is a blessing to see his daily improvements.
See all stories about Japheth here.
Trina Logilai
Trina Logilai
DOB: 2009
Medical Condition: Cerebral Palsy
2018
Trina was born in a slum area of Kitale called Kipsongo. People from the Turkana tribe come down from Lodwar and settle there. Life is tough in that slum; it is dirty and most of the residents are alcoholics. Trina’s father had an injury about ten years ago where he damaged his spine and he requires a lot of help. He needs help standing up, and lying down and struggles to do most things on his own. Trina’s mother abandoned her family and hasn’t been seen in a while. Peter struggled to provide for Trina, but his medical issues hindered him. Trina has cerebral palsy which affects her right side causing her to lack full-range of motion right hand and walk on the toes of her right foot, but she didn’t let it hold her back. In 2015 Trina underwent surgery at Kijabe Hospital to loosen her Achilles heel and the muscles in her hand. She now walks well and enjoys carrying the smaller children around the house. She is a sweet little girl–so full of joy.
See all stories about Trina here.
Hezron Junior Musalia
Hezron Junior Musalia
DOB: 2003
Medical Condition: Hydrocephalus
2018
I met Junior while driving to visit the mother of another child. We drove past and I noticed him sitting on the doorstep outside his house so on the way back we stopped and introduced ourselves. He was dirty and had swollen legs from being malnourished. I asked him what he wanted me to bring him back next time and he said “Soap. I don’t like being dirty.” It broke my heart. So the next day I stopped by with soap and lotion and new clothes. A few days later I stopped by unannounced and found Junior in the same dirty clothes and the other kids in the house wearing his new ones. I found out that he had been living with his grandparents. His mother was fifteen years old when she had him and dropped him at his grandparents house one day and never came back. His grandparents didn’t have the money to get him a shunt put in place for his Hydrocephalus so they went to the area chief to raise funds and when he was four years old they were able to get the funds to do the operation. He has some cognitive delays, but is also one of the most joyful children I have ever met–he always has a huge smile on his face.
See all stories about Junior here.
Newton Mungui
Name: Newton Mungui
DOB: 2007
Newton’s mom was working at the house before she went back to school. Now he stays with the kids while his mother is in school and goes home for the school holidays. He is sponsored to learn at Greenfields Primary School with the other kids. He is an active little boy who also fits in great with the rest of the family.
See all stories about Newton here.
Maureen Nafula
Maureen Nafula
DOB: 2008
2018
Maureen’s mother, Anna, lives and works at the house. When she started work, she came without Maureen. Then one night Maureen became very ill and came to the house while she was recovering. Anna told Maureen that her sister was coming to take her home, Maureen said that she was already home. So she moved into the house and is a joy to have around. She is a bright, funny little girl. It is encouraging to see how much she has improved at the house.
See all stories about Maureen here.
Zipporah Nbwaya
Zipporah Nbwaya
DOB: 2010
2018
Zipporah’s mother, Alice, also works at the house. Zipporah (Zippee, pronounced “Z.P.”, for short) had been staying at her grandparents’ for the first few months her mother worked at the house, but later moved in with us. She is a sassy little girl with so much energy and a contagious laugh.
See all stories about Zippee here.
Susan Marion
Name: Susan Marion
Date of Birth: 2007
Medical Condition: Autism
2018
I met Susan when she was living in an area of town called Matisi. Her mother abandoned her when she was small and left her to live all on her own. Her grandmother had only been staying with her for a year and said that when she found her she was so malnourished and was being abused by the neighbors in the area where her mother left her. Susan’s grandmother is not-all-there (mentally) herself and struggled to provide for the two of them. She would go to work and leave Susan all alone during the day. I went into their house and there was nothing inside, not even a blanket, a trace of food, or clean clothes. I found Susan sleeping on an old bag of maize in the corner and when she woke up she was shivering and hungry. Susan doesn’t speak, but she loves to dance and is such a happy little girl. She also loves to do headstands…all day every day. She flits around the house so often that the house moms have nicknamed her “butterfly.”
See all stories about Susie here.
Dinah Mukwana
Name: Dinah Mukwana
February 2012-August 2017
Medical Condition: Hydrocephalus, Spina Bifida
I got a call from the Children’s Welfare Office of Eldoret (a town about an hour and a half from Kitale) asking me if I could come to meet a few children who had been abandoned at a big hospital in their area. That is where I met Dinah. She was born there and her mother abandoned her and has never came back. Dinah had never left the hospital until the day we took her to the house. She loves being at the house and playing with the other kids. She is a tiny girl with a big personality: she loves to talk, make jokes, and be right in the center of the action. The damage caused to the spine by the Spina Bifida has left her legs paralyzed, but she can sit on her own, feed herself and crawls all around with the other kids. She is very bright and loves to attend school each day. In 2017, Dinah developed meningitis and passed away. Through our sorrow, we see the blessing of our time with Dinah, how many people she impacted her short five years in this world. She was a light to everyone she met.
See all stories about Dinah here.
Rael Majuma
Name: Rael Majuma
Date of Birth: 2008
Medical Condition: Developmental Delays, Epilepsy
2018
I met Rael before Precious Kids Center started. She was living with both her parents in a local slum area. She was three years old and weighed only 4kgs (just under 9lbs) and was unable to walk or talk. She is Franco Wanjohi’s little sister. Their parents are not-all-there (mentally) and were struggling to care for them. Rael and her twin sister Rose were taken to live at another children’s home run by one of my friends. At the time, we didn’t know that Rael had any developmental delays or other health issues. As she got older, it became more evident and she was moved to Precious Kids Center so that she could receive more specialized care because of her disabilities. Rael has a very sweet demeanor. She has a big smile and loves to help with small tasks when she can. Right now, her favorite way to help is sweeping outside after haircuts and inside after meals.
See all stories about Rael here.
Linah Nafula
Name: Linah Nafula
Date of Birth: October 2009
Medical Condition: Albinism
2018
Linah comes from a family of seven. Linah and her older sister Damaris both have albinism. Damaris was mostly in charge of caring for Linah and took her to all of the check-ups and eye clinics that are available. Their mother said that their father is a drunkard and she struggles to provide for such a large family without the support of her husband. The kids’ feet were covered with jiggers and the girls slept outside on worn out mattresses in the family’s kitchen. Linah was in a local public school where they don’t even have desks for the students and the ones who can’t teach themselves struggle to keep up. After seeing sweet Linah in such a difficult situation we decided to move her into the home. Since moving into the house, Ina has done so well with the other kids. Her best friends are Maureen and Zipporah. She is a chatty, inquisitive little girl who is doing so well in this safe and loving new home.
See all stories about Linah here.
David Gideon Murugha
Name: David Gideon Murugha
Date of Birth: 2010
Medical Condition: Delayed speech development
David was dropped off at the center one day by the Children’s Office. We were told that he needed a place to stay for the weekend and they would return on Monday to find a permanent placement for him, but no one ever came to pick him up. We knew little about his background and were not even told his name upon his arrival. When we asked this traumatized little three-year-old, we thought he said his name was Eric David. A few months later, we were at church one day and a woman came up to me and was so happy to see him. It turns out, she is his grandmother. We were able to get to know a few more details about him. His real name is Gideon (but we let him choose what he wants to be called and he chose David.) He was taken from his mother because she has a mental illness and the children’s office learned of the abuse that was going on in the home. David’s grandmother told me that one day she went to visit and found him tied to a tree outside. Sweet little David has been through a lot in his few years and is finally starting to break out of his shell after being with us for almost a year. He has some speech delays and other minor developmental issues, that most likely stem from his past traumas, but we have seen him make great progress the past year and he is beginning to gain more trust towards the adults in the house and will interact and smile.
See all stories about David here.
Malley Naliaka
Name: Malley (pronounced Mall-eh) Naliaka
Date of Birth: 2004
Medical Condition: Down Syndrome
2018
Malley was found living in an area about an hour outside of Kitale. She was living with her father and grandmother who both are heavy drinkers. She had never had the opportunity to go to school because her family thought that her disabilities would keep her from being able to learn. I went to check on her one day and she ran right up and sat on my lap. Her father saw her as more of a burden than a blessing and dropped her off at the house the next day and has not been back to visit since. She is a joy to have at the house. She loves playing with all the other children, but Bramwel is her best friend at the house.
See all stories about Malley here.
Moses Zawadi
Name: Moses Zawadi
Date of Birth: 2009
Medical Condition: Cerebral Palsy
2018
Moses was found abandoned in the waiting area of the District Hospital. Someone had just dropped him off and the hospital staff found him crawling around the hospital alone after hours. Moses is unable to speak so we don’t know many details about him and had to give him a new name along with his new life. When he came to the house he could only crawl, but after six short months of physical therapy he began to walk and is now running all around the compound.
See all stories about Moses here.
Victor Wafula
Name: Victor Wafula
2007-2016
Medical Condition: Schizencephally
His mother, Phoebe was just fifteen years old when he was born and she has been struggling to provide for him ever since. Victor cannot sit on his own or support his own head. He doesn’t talk and needs to be fed and have his diaper changed. His mom loves him very much, but doesn’t have the knowledge or means to provide for him. She has been kicked out of her mother’s home and had two husbands leave her because she refused to abandon her son. I had been helping to support Victor from his home, but they moved one day and I couldn’t find them. Then one day I stumbled upon them in a little village 30 minutes outside of town and told his mom that I would come back the next day to take him to the hospital to get some scans so that he could start medication for his epilepsy. When we got there we found him locked inside his family’s little mud hut in the dark because his mother had no option but to leave him at home and go to work to make a little money to feed her family. Upon seeing this, my heart broke and we decided to move him into the house. Victor has Schizencephally, which is very rare and means that the left side of his brain never developed. Victor was always one of the happiest kids at the house. It was hard to find him without a big smile on his face. In early 2016, Victor’s breathing worsened and his seizures became much longer and more frequent. The doctor’s said his condition brings more complications as the child gets older. Victor passed away suddenly one morning. The children and staff grieved him well and will never forget this joyful boy.
See all stories about Victor here.
Japheth Mateka
Name: Japheth Mateka
Date of Birth: 2008
2018
Japheth is the little brother of Pascal Wafula. Pascal’s mom called us one Saturday and said that she was in the hospital and wanted us to come and visit her. After talking to her she told me that she had been diagnosed with cervical cancer. She was discharged a few days later and referred to a hospital with a cancer center about an hour away. She is currently undergoing chemotherapy, but her condition is not improving. We usually stop by to visit her twice a month to see how she is doing. One Saturday we stopped by and found that she was doing much worse and could not even get up off her couch. Japheth is too little to be able to care for her and she was too weak to cook, so they hadn’t eaten for two days. We brought Japheth home with us to help lighten the stress his mother was feeling as she watched her child not be able to go to school and get the care he needed because of her illness. Japheth is doing well with us and is excited to be in school. His mother, Rose passed away in December 2016, and though he mourned her passing, he is thriving in the house and in school.
See all stories about Japheth here.
Quinta Nekesa
Name: Quinta Nekesa
DOB: 2006
Medical Condition: Cerebral Palsy
2018
Every time I would visit Mama Pascal, a neighbor girl, Quinta, would make her way to say hi. Quinta has cerebral palsy, which makes it difficult for her to walk on her own. Her mother saw her as a burden and would leave her locked outside the house all day. There is something wrong when you would lock up your possessions in your house for safe-keeping while leaving your daughter outside alone to fend for herself. Quinta is shy and reserved and didn’t talk to me much on these visits, but would come and sit right next to me and smile. Mama Pascal told me that after I leave Quinta always asks when I am going to take her to com toe stay with me. She told them that she doesn’t like sitting alone outside all day (without lunch most days) while the other kids go to school or tag along with their mother while she runs errands. I told Quinta that she just needed to wait for a few months until the new house is built then she could come and learn with the other kids. She agreed but looked up at me with tears in her eyes. We walked her back to her house and then headed off to eat lunch. I couldn’t get her off my mind. The very same day I went back and talked to Quinta’s mother and we brought her to Precious Kids Center. It has been great to see her open up and become comfortable in such a short time. She already knows that she is loved for who she is by the staff and other children. She had only said about three words to me before she came and now she is free to be herself and has turned into a little chatterbox.
See all stories about Quinta here.
Zablon Echai
Name: Zablon Echai
DOB: 2006
2018
Most days when I go to town my car is immediately swarmed by anywhere from five to fifteen boys that live in the streets of Kitale. Most of them have parents, but for whatever reason, they run away to town because being homeless is better than their situation at home. A few weeks ago we noticed a boy that was so much tinier than the rest. It broke my heart to see such a little boy struggling and living life all on his own. Zablon quickly became part of the group that sees my car pull into town and comes running. He told me that he came to town with his mother, who is also sleeping on the streets. She has a mental illness and somehow ended up in Kitale town with her son. Zablon’s case is different than the other boys living in town. He didn’t make the decision to leave his home, but he was brought there to live because his mother had nowhere to go. One day I went to town and he grabbed on to my hand and I asked him if he wanted to start a new life and come live at Precious Kids Center and he quickly agreed. I was nervous that he would run away, but after a few hours he quickly warmed up to the other kids at the house. He is a real spunky little boy with LOTS of energy. He needs a little extra love and attention and loves tagging along on errands with me. He said that when he grows up he wants to be a pilot and he said he would fly me to the U.S. anytime I want. He still has a lot of adjusting to do, but he is getting used to his new environment and slowly working to overcome the trauma of his past.
Gracie Nafula
Name: Gracie Nafula
Date of Birth: 2009
Medical Condition: Congenital Scoliosis
2018
Gracie is a sweet little girl I met in a part of town called Birunda when I went to visit Victor and Manu’s parents who both live in the area. I told her mom to meet us at the Kijabe clinic that was coming to town in a few weeks so that the spine specialist could take a look and tell us what the next steps would be. After a long day at the clinic, I was surprised to find that Gracie and her mom had been waiting for me at the kids’ house. We jumped back in the car and went back to the clinic. When we got back to the kid’s house she told me that she didn’t want to leave and had also told her mother something similar several times during the day when they were waiting for us to come back. I walked into the back of the house and one of the house moms walked up to me and said, ”I am so happy that you brought me another kid. She will sleep in my bed tonight all I need is a blanket for her.” Gracie, the other kids, and the staff had already made her a part of the family just like that. She showed up dirty and without shoes, and said goodbye to her mom without a problem, which proved that whatever the situation is at home, it isn’t ideal. So, just like that, she became the 45th resident of Precious Kids Center.
Alex Simiyu
Name: Alex Simiyu
2013-Aug 2017
Medical Condition: Holoprosencephaly
Alex has had a tough life for such a young little one. His mother, who is only eighteen years old, showed up at the house one day looking for help. Alex was born with a congenital brain malformation called holoprosencephaly, that caused many developmental delays and also caused the center of his head to be soft because his skull did not properly form. He also has seizures and is blind because of the brain damage. We sent his mother to Kijabe to have him checked out by the doctors and they said that they are unable to do an operation without causing more harm and that the prognosis for his diagnosis isn’t great. His mother stayed with us for a few days between doctors appointments because she traveled about an hour to get to us. Alex’s mother, Esther, told us that things at home were difficult after her mother abandoned them. It was hard for her to care for her son as well as her younger siblings. So we agreed to let Alex stay at the center. We learned that his mother had been arrested for locking him in her house alone for three days without food or water. We also learned that Alex’s father was Esther’s teacher when she was in the 8th grade and said that he did not want anything to do with his child. It had been about a week since Esther had seen her son and it seemed as if only the neighbors were happy to see him. She didn’t hold him once the entire time or say goodbye when it was time to leave.
Because of Alex’s diagnosis, his health continued to decline. We worked with the doctors to do what we could to give him the best quality of life, but in August 2017, he passed away.
See all stories about Alex here.
Allan Wekesa
Name: Allan Wekesa
Date of Birth: 2005
Medical Condition: Hydrocephalus
2018
I met Allan a few years ago when he was living with his mother and siblings at Purpose Driven Academy. His mother explained that when Allan first got sick, she dropped her other three children at their grandmother’s house and took Allan to Uganda for an operation. When she returned she found that he husband had packed up everything they owned and disappeared leaving her to care for her children alone. Allan began attending school at Precious Kids Center while his mother worked. She only had two days off a month, so we agreed to have her drop Allan off in the mornings before work and to come to pick him up in the evenings after work was over. We enjoyed having Allan around and were seeing him make improvements after being around the other children at school. Colette deeply loves her son, but when it came time for us to move to the new property, it was clear that this was too far away for her to be able to drop him off and pick him up and that the best option would be for him to move with us to the new center. So we hired Colette! She and her two other children, Whitney and Junior moved on to the new PKC compound. Allan is a very funny boy. He loves to sing little songs to himself and twist all around in whatever chair he is sitting in. He also loves to hit and kick and you will never hear him laugh harder than when he connects with his target. We are glad that we get to spend more time with Allan and enjoy having him with us in our new home!
Lillian Chesang
Name: Lillian Chesang
2011-2016
Medical Condition: Schezencephally, Hydrocephalus, Epilepsy
The first time I saw Lillian, we were in Kijabe (a town 6 hours away from Kitale) at the hospital with a few other kids from the center. When we got back to Kitale one of the other employees showed us a picture of a child who had been to the center while we were gone. Imagine our surprise when it was Lillian, the very same child we had seen at Kijabe. We went and talked to her mother and she told us that it was a challenge to care for her child as a single mother. They also live far outside of town so finding proper medical care and a place for physical therapy is also a big challenge. In January, she moved into PKC. She has Schizencephally, which means that her brain did not form properly due to her having a stroke while still in the womb. Due to complications of her Schizencephally, she later developed Hydrocephalus, but her mother was able to scrape together the funds to get a shunt placed when she was two years old. Lillian also has epilepsy and takes medication daily to keep her seizures under control. Also due to the damaged caused to her brain by her other diagnoses, she is blind. Despite all of her challenges, Lillian was a joy to have around and she has a great big smile and an even better giggle. She loved singing to herself and also enjoys when the other kids come to play with her. In the summer of 2016, her condition worsened and doctors were no longer able to do anything but make her comfortable and she passed away with her mother by her side.
Dorcas Nanjala
Name: Dorcas Nanjala
Date of Birth: 2006
Medical Condition: Cerebral Palsy, Sickle Cell Anemia, Epilepsy
Dorcas getting her last dose of medicine before going to her new home at PKC
I met Dorcas in April of 2015 after getting a call from a friend about a child in need. We drove about an hour, up a winding road that crept its way up the side of a huge hill. We walked into her house and Dorcas greeted us with a smile. We talked to her mom and learned that she has epilepsy and hemiplegic cerebral palsy caused by a stroke that effects her left side. Then in December 2015, we got a call from the same friend who brought us to meet Dorcas the first time. She was covered in sores and scabs from scabies, which comes from not being clean, so it was evident that no one was taking the time to bathe her. Her whole family was sitting in the house eating their lunch as she was writhing in pain on the couch grabbing her stomach. There was no smile or friendly greeting this time because she was in too much pain. She was admitted to the hospital and after two days with no improvement, we were very worried that we had found her too late. But on the third day, she finally began to show improvements and we were thrilled to see her sweet smile again. The intestinal blockage was caused by a worm infestation which can easily be prevented by a medication that only costs twenty cents that should be given to children every three months. After Dorcas was with us for about a year we began to notice that it seemed as if her mental development was regressing. Her memory wasn’t as good as it was in the beginning and she seemed more confused and disoriented even when she wasn’t having seizures. The doctor ran some tests and diagnosed her with Sickle Cell Anemia. We were able to get her on a few extra medications to help with some of her symptoms and gave us some dietary changes and she began to improve. We love having this little bundle of joy around. She keeps us constantly smiling with her antics. She is often hospitalized due to frequent seizures, so please keep our sweet little Dori in your prayers.
See all stories about Dorcas here.
Dan Epem
Name: Dan Epem
2010-Aug 2017
Medical Condition: Cerebral Palsy, Microcephaly, Epilepsy
We met Dan at a wheelchair distribution that we attended with some local physical therapists. His mother was there to get him a wheelchair, but it wasn’t exactly fit for him so we paid them a visit to see how we could help. We drove to visit them and found this family of five living in what used to be the kitchen of another family. Dan’s father had abandoned his family leaving their mother to fend for herself in a place where work is hard to find. Dan’s arms were stuck bent at the elbows and even his shoulders were so stiff that he couldn’t lift his arms at all. We saw how much Dan’s mom loved him and we also saw that in her situation she couldn’t give him proper care, so we brought him to live at the center. Dan has made great improvements in his short time here.
We were happy to see the improvements that Dan was making and then started to notice that he wasn’t as happy as he used to be and he kept getting sick frequently. He was admitted to the hospital a few times after his body temperature kept dropping due to dehydration. In August 2017, he passed away.
Sherry Ingasu
Name: Sherry Ingasu
Date of Birth: 2011
Medical Condition: Spina Bifida
2018
I’ve known Sherry for a few years now. Her mom was constantly going around to different people and I had gotten several calls about her and gone to see her on several occasions. I had her mother meet me at the Kijabe Clinic in town one day to have the doctors take a look at Sherry and she showed up drunk at 9:00 in the morning. Then one day I got a call and heard that her mother had been arrested for being drunk and that Sherry was in prison with her. Typically, the time spent in jail for this offense is three to six months. Life in the prison is hard as an inmate and the children do not receive any special treatment. It broke my heart to think that this sweet little girl would be subjected to this type of treatment for her mother’s mistakes. So I took a trip down to the prison and met with her mother and the welfare officer. Her mother agreed that Precious Kids Center would be the best place for her so we loaded her up in the car and brought her home. Sherry was born with spina bifida that left her legs paralyzed. Sherry instantly fit right into our little family. On her first day, it seemed like she had been there for years. She loves being around the other kids and having the opportunity to attend school. She has the sweetest little giggle and is so full of joy.
Joel Torotich
Name: Joel Torotich
Date of Birth: 2010
Medical Condition: Microcephaly, hydrocephalus, epilepsy
I met Joel last year when I traveled to Korosion, West Pokot with a visiting team to help out with an eye clinic. The village that we visited was very remote and very hard to get to. We had to drive on bumpy roads, and up rocky hills for about an hour. Then we pulled the car over to the side of the road and walked across a little river and up a hill to get to the school where the clinic was. I noticed a young mother with two kids, one tied on her front and the other one tied to her back. I sat with him almost the whole day then we said our goodbyes. I gave his mother and some of the other people at the clinic so that they could get in touch with me to talk about how we could best help him. I couldn’t stop thinking about the immense struggle of raising a child with a disability in such a rural area. The hospital was so far away and this family has very little income so it was difficult for them to get him the check ups that he needed let alone get to him to weekly therapy sessions. After I left, I tried calling the phone numbers I had been given, but couldn’t reach anyone. Then, one afternoon, I passed by a clinic that came to town to check up on some other kids, and there was Joel with his dad. I talked to him about bringing him to the house, he went home to talk to his wife then they both came to bring Joel to his new home. Joel is adjusting nicely. He is a happy little boy who is starting to smile more and more. With the right medicines, we were able to get his epilepsy under control and have been working with doctors to see how we might improve his brain function.
Caleb Baraka
Name: Caleb Baraka
Date of Birth: 2010
Medical Condition: Hydrocephalus
In the summer of 2016, I got some messages from a missionary in Nakuru (a town about 4 hours away from Kitale) about a child who had been abandoned at the hospital 9 months ago. The social worker at the hospital was working with her to find a placement for him locally and they couldn’t find any other children’s homes or families that were willing to take him. I made the drive to Nakuru to meet him and see if there was any way that we could help. When I saw sweet little Caleb lying in his hospital bed and heard more of his story I knew that he would be a perfect fit for PKC. He was abandoned in the waiting area of the hospital one day. No one ever came to claim him and I was told that he was malnourished and his limbs were very stiff when he first came in. It was refreshing to see a child who was abandoned at the hospital who was in better shape than when he came. And it was obvious from all of the tearful goodbyes that he was well-loved. He is such an easy going little guy. Caleb has hydrocephalus and is not able to speak or sit unsupported, but his sweet little laugh fills the room. He loves being around the other kids and is making a quick and easy adjustment to his new environment.
Emmanuel Kipruto
Name: Emmanuel Kipruto
Date of Birth: 2011
Medical Condition: Hydrocephalus
I first met Emmanuel at a clinic in Kitale. His mother had taken him for a checkup to make sure that his shunt was working and didn’t have the money to be able to get him to Kijabe the following week for a check up. She shyly waited by the car and quietly asked if I could help her. So I gave her a little money to go to Kijabe and get Emmanuel checked out. When she came back we stopped by her house to check on them. When we got there we talked about Emmanuel and got to spend some time with him. He has Hydrocephalus and his mother had trouble getting the funds to pay for his surgery, but when the doctors at Kijabe saw how urgently he needed an operation they helped her out by doing it for free. Emmanuel’s father abandoned his family because he said that Emmanuel couldn’t possibly be his son. This left his mother to provide for not just Emmanuel, but three other children on her own. So she moved back in with her parents, who also didn’t seem like they were very loving or accepting of Emmanuel. We could see how much this mother loves her child and wants the best for him, the problem is she doesn’t have the income to be able to do that, so we brought him to live at PKC. He is a smart little boy who is just starting to talk and within a week of him being at the house, he already knew everyone’s names. We were able to get a special chair made to give him the proper support to sit on his own so that he can attend classes and be around the other kids. We love having feisty little Emmanuel around and love watching him excitedly start bobbing his head and waving his arms whenever he hears music.
Lenny Kiprotich
Name: Lenny Kiprotich
Date of Birth: 2004
Medical Condition: Autism
Lenny’s dad works at one of the local hospitals as a security guard. He would frequently see us coming in with various children and one day he told us that his son also has a disability and that he would like us to visit him. So one day we drove out to meet him. They lived about one hour outside of town on bumpy unpaved roads. When we got close to their home we parked in a field and took a fifteen-minute walk that included jumping over a few fences to get to their house. It was a quick visit, but we met Lenny. He was very shy the first day and didn’t even want to look at us. His father told us that he is unable to speak and cannot walk or feed himself without assistance. When space opened up we decided that Lenny would be a perfect fit for the house. If he holds someone’s hand he can totally walk on his own but doesn’t have the confidence to try by himself, but he is working on strength and balance in therapy. When he first came it was evident that he was left alone most of the time and was not very social with the other kids. After he had some time to adjust and spend time in class and around the other kids he has opened up and now has friends that he will interact with. We are very proud of the progress that he has made so far and can’t wait to see how he continues to improve.
See all stories about Lenny here.
Rooney Ogonyo
Name: Rooney Ogonyo
Date of Birth: 2010
Medical Condition: Cerebral Palsy, Epilepsy
2018
I first met Rooney in his home in Kipsongo. He had scabies and his little body was so itchy, but he was so happy and smiled through our entire visit. He was very unsure of me and would start to cry if I got too close, so I kept my distance and talked to his mother. I brought him some medicine until his scabies cleared up and then went back to check on him one day and heard that he had moved away with his mother. Then later I got a call about a child in Kipsongo and was taken right back to Rooney’s house. He had returned and I talked to his mother about a way forward. Usually, I try to make my visits to families during lunchtime because it’s the easiest way to see if kids are getting proper meals at home. On one of these visits, we found nothing cooking and the older girls in the family came home from school for lunch and were given a small stick of sugar cane and were then sent back to school.
Rooney was born with Cerebral palsy and has epilepsy as well. He is unable to speak and when he came could only crawl around. He had never received physical therapy in his life. His parents seem to love him very much, but also don’t really know where to begin to give him proper care. So we moved him into PKC. Rooney was also more than ready to start going to school. We scheduled a day for me to come and pick him and his parents up so that they could see where he was going and come to visit him. The second Rooney saw me, he began waving goodbye to his parents and was ready to go to school.
After just two weeks of being at Precious Kids School, he began walking on his own. He was very wobbly and unsteady, but he was determined. Now he is confident and has gained the strength and balance he needs to get around by himself. He cannot speak, but he is a bright boy who understands everything and is working on communicating using signs. His favorite is the thumbs up.
It took him a while to adjust to the new environment, but after he settled down he started improving daily. He loves playing with the other kids at the house and we love his joyful personality.
See all stories about Rooney here.
Triza Awinja
Name: Triza Awinja
Date of Birth: 2007
Medical Condition: Cerebral Palsy
2018
I first met Triza about five years ago before we had even opened Precious Kids Center. We met with the area chief of a slum called Matisi and met a few children that she had identified from her community. I remember her clearly because her father was trying his hardest to convince me to take her that very same day. He had even packed up all of her things in a suitcase and was willing to give his daughter away to someone he had only known for five minutes. I had not heard anything from Triza since that day until her mother came by one day to ask if we could help her daughter. Her mother explained that Triza’s father had left them because he could not handle caring for a child with a disability. Not everyone in Kenya is accepting and welcoming of children with disabilities so Triza suffered while her mother went to work during the day. Her aunt and uncle did not want her in the house while her mother was gone so she sat outside all day rain or shine without food. There is also a risk of leaving a young, vulnerable girl outside in a slum area all day where she can easily be taken advantage of. I stopped by to visit one day and she squealed in excitement and starting telling everybody goodbye and that she would be back to visit them after schools closed for the holidays. Her mother wasn’t around so I told her that I would come back soon to take her to school a different day. Triza immediately shot back and said, “I know you have her phone number, just give her a call.” So that’s just what I did and we loaded her up into the car that very same day.
See all stories about Triza here.
Meshack Kamau
Name: Meshack Kamau
Date of Birth: 2010
Medical Condition: Spina Bifida
2018
Meshack was born with spina bifida and his mother was able to do some fundraising in her community to get the money to take him to get the operation that he needed. Even though he had the operation he still has limited sensation and mobility from the waist down and is unable to walk. We were able to help him get an operation to correct his feet to help improve circulation and blood flow in his feet. His mother told us that she had tried to put him in school, but the other students made fun of his wheelchair and he was uncomfortable because he did not feel welcomed or accepted and refused to go back. Meshack’s mom has been worried about her son getting older and not being in school and kept asking if she could bring him to school and at that point, we didn’t have space. When she heard we moved she called and said I’m bringing Meshack on Monday for school, please don’t say no, I will bring some beans and maize as payment for his fees. We love having Meshack around and are glad that we are able to provide a school where he feels understood and accepted for exactly who he is. He is a great little boy who doesn’t let his challenges hinder him at all. Despite the fact that he doesn’t walk he is very independent and manages to get around on his own. He is also very bright and is doing great in school.
See all stories about Meshack here.
Ayub Bahati
Name: Ayub Bahati
Date of Birth: 2011
Medical Condition: Developmental Delays
When I met Ayub, he was living with his mom in an area of town called Matisi. Ayub was three years old at the time and was unable to walk or talk. He also didn’t have an appetite and it was hard to get him to eat solid foods. I gave his mom some money and sent her to the hospital for a few tests and the doctors told her that Ayub has Muscular Dystrophy. I helped her get some more tests and buy some foods that the doctors suggested would help him gain weight. I went home for a few months after being sick and when I came back I was told that he had passed away. Then one day I was at the hospital and a woman brought in a very skinny and sick looking boy. I couldn’t stop staring at them because I was trying to figure out how I knew the child. I was told Anastasia, who runs another home near PKC, had brought him in after being told he was abandoned in town. The next day I went back to the hospital with his neighbor who confirmed that it was indeed Ayub. I called Ayub’s mom, Irene, and had her meet me at the hospital. When she walked in she burst into tears after seeing her son in such bad shape. She told us that she had taken him to his grandmother’s house and had heard he was doing better. Through her tears she said she would never have taken him there if she would have known that he’d be treated so poorly. After talking to Anastasia, we agreed PKC would be the best place for him. Since moving into Precious Kids Center, Ayub’s appetite has continued to improve and we got to finally see his real personality. He is quite the character and loves to clap his hands and dance around. He was severely neglected and because of that was very delayed in speaking and walking. After being with us for about a year he began to make huge improvements and can now walk on his own, feed himself and can say about 20 words. We are thrilled to see how much he has improved and can’t wait to see what the future holds for him.
See all stories about Ayub here.
Favor Baraka
Name: Favor Baraka
Date of Birth: 1998
Medical Condition: Autism
2018
Favor is 29 years old, has Autism and is nonverbal. Her mother is a single mother who struggles to provide for Favor and her two other daughters by working as a preschool teacher. The struggle with having a child like Favor is that it isn’t safe to leave her at home unattended because it is very likely that someone will take advantage of her. So Favor’s mother brought her with her everywhere she went. The bigger challenge came when the various schools where her mother found work often fired her because they viewed Favor as a burden and distraction and did not want her around the school. Favor’s mother came to me one day nearly in tears and said that she didn’t know what to do. She said that she won’t leave Favor alone and vulnerable, but she is trying to put her other two daughters through university and can’t do that if she loses another job. So Favor became a boarding student at Precious Kids School. Her education looks a little different than the other students because of her age. Her mother is a preschool teacher and understands the nature of her child’s disability and has realistic expectations of her progress. So I talked with her mother and we came up with a few skills that we would help Favor develop. Her mother suggested that we train her mostly in helping with housework and helping care for the children. We let Favor decide where she wants to help out for the day, but she mostly loves hanging out with the laundry ladies. They give her the socks to wash right alongside them. She also helps take the clothes off the line and fold them at the end of the day. Favor also is great with the other kids. Caleb and Japheth are her absolute favorites–she helps carry them to class in the mornings and bring them back and forth during changing times. She has a great personality and is rarely seen without a huge smile on her face.
See all stories about Favor here.
John Kamau
Name: John Kamau
Date of Birth: 2009
Medical Condition: Autism
We met sweet John after getting a call from a social worker in a town about four hours away called Naivasha. He had been abandoned in the night and was found roaming around the busy town in the morning. He had been taken to a rescue center, where children are able to get temporary refuge after being lost or abandoned. They had trouble finding him a placement because of his disabilities, but we fell in love with John the instant that we saw him. He was seven years old when he came to us and we have now enjoyed the past two years. He has the absolute sweetest personality and loves to laugh. He can walk independently but has some vision impairments so he feels more comfortable having someone hold his hand to walk him around. The other kids take turns walking him to and from class every day. We love our sweet John!
See all stories about John here.
Josephine Maloba
Name: Josephine Maloba
Date of Birth: 2009
Medical Condition: Down Syndrome
One of my friends called me up one day and told me that she had a child that she wanted us to go see. We got out of the car and saw Josephine playing in the dirt outside of her grandmother’s house. We learned that her mother was only 15 years old when she was born and she ran away immediately after Josephine was the birth. Her grandmother, who is often ill, was left to care for this energetic little girl on her own. We originally tried putting Josephine in a local school, but quickly realized that it was not a good fit for her and brought her to Precious Kids Center. During her time with us, she has grown so much and can now say about 15 words. She is making great improvements and she keeps us laughing.
See all stories about Josephine here.
Samuel Odhiambo
Name: Samuel Odhiambo
Date of Birth: 2011
Medical Condition: Autism, Developmental Delays, Epilepsy
Samuel was found living with his grandfather by the local children’s officer and he told us to pay him a visit. His grandmother died a few years before leaving, the two of them to fend for themselves after his mother had abandoned him. His grandfather was doing the best with what he had but was struggling to provide for all of his needs. His little feet were covered in jiggers when we took him in and he was malnourished as well. Samuel was born with severe Autism and has many developmental delays. He is unable to walk or talk and needs to be fed. He doesn’t like to be touched much but will smile at you from across the room. He also has epilepsy and we were able to get him medication to help keep his seizures under control. Samuel’s health has greatly improved since he came to live at PKC and we love having him around.
See all stories about Samuel here.
Wilson Shitela
Name: Wilson Shitela
Date of Birth: January 23, 2005
Medical Condition: Cerebral Palsy
2018
Wilson came to us after living at another children’s home for about 7 years prior. I had known him a little bit throughout this time because he went to school with some of our older boys at Greenfields. He has cerebral palsy that effects his right side and his speech. After his teachers talked to his previous guardian, they decided that he needed a school environment where he could receive more one on one attention, so he moved over to PKC full time. At first, he had a hard time making the adjustment, but after a few weeks, he began to open up and make friends at his new home and school. He is very helpful and is always the first to volunteer to help feed kids at mealtimes. He loves playing checkers on his makeshift board when he’s not in school. We love having Wilson as a part of our family!
See all stories about Wilson here.
Veronica Kwamboka
Name: Veronica Kwamboka
2011-2018
Medical Condition: Schizencephally
Veronica was abandoned at a hospital in a town about five hours away from Kitale from Homa Bay. She lived at the hospital from two- to six-years-old. When we went to visit, we found her sitting in the corner of a room all by herself. When we were asking the nurses questions about her no one really seemed to know her well enough to give us a straight answer. They showed us a list of the names of every organization that had come to see her and she had been rejected by all 32 centers that had come to see her before we did.
My heart broke because this sweet little girl seemed to be unwanted by almost everyone she came in contact with. We arranged for her papers to be completed and then agreed to take her to PKC. The day they called us to pick her up, I was busy with another child at the hospital in Kitale, so they arranged to drop her off at the center using the hospital’s ambulance. The nurse that accompanied her told us that she did not have seizures and was not on any medication for them, but after a day with her, we knew that was not the case and were able to get her some medication. We also took her for a CT scan because her disabilities seemed severe, but we had no real information as to exactly what her problem was. The brain scan revealed that she has, Schizencephally, which means that her brain didn’t develop properly most likely due to her having a stroke while still in the womb. We had encountered two other children with this problem and knew that the prognosis wasn’t a good one, but we were determined to love and care for Veronica in the best way that we knew how no matter how much time we had with her. She had a lot of problems adjusting to having proper nutrition because her body had gone without food for so long. She made some improvements, but then her health slowly began to decline.
In May 2018 she passed away and we are honored to have had two years with this sweet little one.
Yvonne and Margaret Okumu
Name: Yvonne and Margaret Okumu
Dates of Birth: 2010 and 2012
We first met these two sweet girls when they started coming to school at the center. Their guardian, Christabel, was the very first teacher that we hired and she brought them to and from school every day with her. After about three years, Christabel began to have some health complications that left her completely paralyzed so the girls moved into our center full time and go home to visit her during the school holidays. We love having them around. They fit right in with our older group of girls at the house and are a great help with the other kids at the house as well.
Mary Wanjiko
Name: Mary Wanjiko
Date of Birth: 2011
Medical Condition: Cerebral Palsy
Mary’s neighbor called me one day to go and pay her a visit. When I walked in I met sweet little Mary. Her mom wasn’t around, but I walked over and picked her up and she smiled at me the whole time we were talking with her aunt. After a few weeks, we went back and talked to her mother about bringing her to the center. Mary’s mom loves her very much and tried her best to care for her, but being a single mother, she was forced to lock her into the house while she went to work to provide for her family. Mary has cerebral palsy and cannot sit, walk or talk on her own. She has the sweetest smile and we love having her around.
Michelle Cherotich
Name: Michelle Cherotich
Date of Birth: 2007
2018
Michelle was the neighbor of our social worker, who identified her as a child in need. She does not have any disabilities but was a vulnerable girl in the village living with her grandmother. She was not in school and she was malnourished when she first came to us. Now Michelle is in the second grade and is doing very well in school. She is a great help with the other kids and we can’t wait to see what the future holds for her.
Valarie Musumba
Name: Valarie Musumba
Date of Birth: 2011
Medical Condition: Autism
Valarie is one of our boarding students at the school. This means that she stays with us while school is in session and goes home for the holidays. Her parents are able to afford for her to go to school, but couldn’t find a school that was a great fit for their child. Valarie is a wonderfully energetic 9-year old who just needs someone who understands her needs. She is unable to speak but understands everything said to her and has made great improvements since coming to stay with us.
Heather Anyilwa
Name: Heather Anyilwa
Date of Birth: 2009
Medical Condition: Autism
One day when Valarie was sick, we took her to the hospital. A woman saw us caring for her and asked a little more about the school. The next day she brought her niece, Heather, who also has Autism to us. Like Valarie, she is unable to speak but understands everything said to her. Heather is also a boarding student who goes home for the holidays. Her mother loves her very much and we are happy to be able to provide her with a safe school environment. We love having these two girls around!
Emmanuel Kipsang
Name: Emmanuel Kipsang
Date of Birth: 2004
We took Kipsang’s big brother to the center because he had cerebral palsy and was very malnourished. After we had stayed with Dan for about two years, his health began to drastically decline and we called his mom to come to stay with us for a while and she brought Kipsang along because he was only three years old at the time. After two weeks, Dan started feeling better and his mom asked if she could leave Kipsang with us so that he could have the opportunity to go to school. We knew that this was a very needy family after the home visit and we had quickly come to love Kipsang during the time he stayed with us. His big brother Dan passed away in August of 2017 and we were glad to have him close so we could walk with him through such a hard time. He continues to stay with us and we love having him around.
Mary Ereka
Name: Mary Ereka
Date of Birth: 2008
Erika is Lucy’s little sister. I’ve known her family for many years and we took Lucy to boarding school after things at home for her were too hard. Erika had been attending a local preschool and feeding program run by some Ukrainian missionaries so her situation was not as difficult as it was for Lucy. In 2016 her mother passed away leaving her with her father who is an alcoholic. We were worried about a young girl being without her mother in a very tough neighborhood, so we decided it would be best for her to move to Precious Kids Center. She is a very bright girl who does well in school. She also loves helping out the other kids at the house who need a little extra help. Erika is certainly a joy to have around.
Emmanuel Sammy Sinundu
Name: Emmanuel Sammy Sinundu
Date of Birth: 2010
Medical Condition: Autism
Sammy first came to us as a student at our school. One of the teachers at our school was asked by her neighbor if we could accommodate her child at our school. He came the first day and we realized that he came from a very needy family so we asked his parents to come to have a meeting with us and they agreed that he should switch to being a boarding student and only goes home during the school holidays. Sammy is a joy to watch run around. He always has a huge grin on his face and he also has Autism and is nonverbal. He is always one of the first kids to give me a fist bump when I arrive in the morning. We love Sammy!
Gideon Kipchirchir
Name: Gideon Kipchirchir
Date of Birth: 2013
Medical Condition: Cerebral Palsy
Gideon’s family lives right down the street from the center. His mother and his grandmother came by one day to ask for our help. Gideon is four years old and has very severe cerebral palsy and epilepsy. He is a sweet boy with a wonderful smile, who is unable to sit, walk or talk. He also needs to be fed all of his meals and takes medication to control his seizures. His mother and grandmother love him very much and visit him frequently, but are unable to meet his needs financially. Gideon has been having trouble gaining weight due to some feeding issues, so please keep this sweet little guy in your prayers.
Vivian Kadenge
Name: Vivian Kadenge
Date of Birth: 2006
Medical Condition: Cerebral Palsy
We heard about a child who was living with her grandmother and that’s when we first went to see Vivian. We walked into her house and greeted a shy and quiet Vivian who was sitting on the couch. Her grandmother went on to explain that her daughter had dropped off Vivian when she was only three years old and never came back. Her grandmother did a great job caring for Vivian all those years because she looked to be very healthy, but now because Vivian had grown so much she was having trouble carrying her around. We looked at this sweet grandmother who only wanted what was best for sweet Vivian and knew that she would be a perfect fit for PKC. So Vivian moved in and began to make great improvements. When she first came she was quiet and shy and now whenever you walk into the house her sweet giggles and squeals of delight are the first thing you can hear. She is starting to be able to feed herself independently and loves being in class with the other students. She is truly a joy to have around and we are excited to see how she continues to improve.
Andrew Kemei
Name: Andrew Kemei
Date of Birth: 2007
Medical Condition: Cerebral Palsy
We met Andrew through the grandfather of Samuel Odhiambo. They come from the same area and when they heard that Sammy was in school, they came to us and asked if we could help their son. So we scheduled a home visit and went to meet sweet Andrew. We walked in to find him sitting in the only piece of furniture in the whole house, a single chair in the corner. He reached out and shook our hands and we sat down to talk to his mother. She told us that Andrew was born without complications and got meningitis when he was three years old that made him unable to walk to talk. He also developed a seizure disorder. They told us that they had tried everything that they could to help their son and when they ran out of money they had to stop looking for treatment. Andrew moved in about a week after this home visit and is doing great. Therapy is helping his muscles get less stiff. He also doesn’t let his challenges hold him back. Even though he cannot sit up independently, he gets around by rolling around the room. He always makes sure to great me when I come in with a handshake and a huge smile. We love having Andrew around and can’t wait to see how he continues to improve.
Vincent Ateya
Name: Vincent Ateya
Date of Birth: 2004
Medical Condition: Autism, Epilepsy
Vincent is another one that had a particularly rough life. His mother was caught while trying to abandon him in town and was taken to jail. He was taken to a local children’s home that was not equipped to handle his special needs, but they were willing to give him care when he urgently needed a safe place to stay. After a few years, their funding was low so they needed to find a new home for Vincent and we welcomed him with open arms. Vinny is a talkative fourteen-year-old boy who loves to sing and dance. He had never been in school before but is working hard on his writing skills. Vinny also has some developmental delays due to his epilepsy. Please keep him in your prayers because lately his medication doesn’t seem to be working and he has been having seizures frequently. We are glad to call Vincent one of our own.
Natasha Adhiambo
Name: Natasha Adhiambo
Date of Birth: 2014
Medical Condition: Cerebral Palsy
I met Natasha when she was just two years old. I got a call about a little girl living in one of the toughest slums in Kitale and we went to go see her. Her mother was only sixteen at the time and her grandmother was unwilling for her to be admitted to the center. So we helped how we could by taking her to the doctor and getting her some scans and X-rays to see how to best treat some breathing problems that she was having. Two years later, her grandmother contacted me again and said that she was ready for Natasha to come to the center. So we went to have a meeting with her and Natasha’s mother. When we started talking her grandmother said, “There’s nothing worse than raising a child who doesn’t grow up.” She also asked me if there was some sort of medication that could make Natasha normal again. We spent some time explaining exactly what cerebral palsy is and that she can make some improvement but there is no quick fix. We all decided that Natasha should move to the center. In April of 2018, Natasha became very ill and we were very scared of how quickly her condition changed. We looked for her mother, who came to stay with her at the hospital for three weeks. She came home for one day and then we quickly rushed her back to another hospital where she stayed for another week. Finally, we were able to see improvements and her mother stayed with us at the center for two months working alongside our staff and Natasha made a full recovery and we are so happy to see her sweet smile.
Dolfrancia Wangila
Name: Dolfrancia Wangila
Date of Birth: 2011
Medical Condition: Clubbed Foot
I first met “Do” when I went to visit Bramwel’s mother. She took me over to see a boy from a needy family who had one clubbed foot. His issue was not severe so I originally didn’t see him as a candidate to be a resident at the center but talked to his mother about bringing him to a clinic where orthopedic surgeons come to assess children with issues such as his. They came and we were told that she needed surgery, so I planned to raise money to help them with this expense and give Do a better quality of life. However, I quickly realized that he needed a little more than just help with the surgery. He had never been in school and he was seven years old. I went one day and decided that it was finally time for him to come to the center. He came and the first day it seemed as if he had already been there for years. He instantly fit right in with the other kids. He still needs surgery to correct his clubbed foot and we are currently trying to raise funds to get him his surgery this year. The operation will cost $700. Please email me if you are interested in helping financially. sammyhammork@yahoo.com
Eugene Wafula
Name: Eugene Wafula
Date of Birth: 2010
Medical Condition: Hydrocephalus
I met Eugene through the same woman who introduced me to Do. She told me about a child who lived near her that came from a needy family and introduced me. When I first met Eugene, he was only five years old, but he could walk and talk well. I was near his house a few years later and decided to stop by and found that his condition had worsened since the last time I had been there. His left side had become paralyzed overnight and his left foot was stuck in a tiptoe position. He had also begun having seizures more frequently and his mother did not have the money to take him to the doctor to get medicine. I was worried about the drastic change in his condition and talked to his mother about bringing him to the center. She quickly agreed that she also thought that it would be best. We were able to get him a brain scan to make sure that his Hydrocephalus was in check and that he wasn’t in need of another operation. We also were able to take him to the orthopedic clinic and they determined that he needs an operation on his foot to correct his gait and make it easier for him to walk independently. We are currently trying to raise funds to get him his surgery this year. The operation will cost $700. Please email me if you are interested in helping financially. sammyhammork@yahoo.com
Jason Namema Sava
Name: Jason Namema Sava
Date of Birth: 2007
Medical Condition: Autism
When school opened in January of 2018, we had so many new parents showing up at the school the first week asking if we could take in their children to our school. I remember walking in the house that day and seeing about 20 mothers with their children. It was hard to decide who to help and who we had to send home because of space, but Jason was admitted that day. Jason has Autism and is unable to walk or talk. He is such a happy little boy with a great smile. His mother said that she had trouble caring for him on her own and meeting all his needs as a single mother. She loves her son very much and comes by once a month with his siblings to spend the day with him. We are honored to have such a sweet boy under our care.
Bahati Nyanjoka
Name: Bahati Nyanjoka
Date of Birth: 2011
Medical Condition: Hydrocephalus
When school opened in January of 2018, we had so many new parents showing up at the school the first week asking if we could take in their children to our school. I remember walking in the house that day and seeing about 20 mothers with their children. It was hard to decide who to help and who we had to send home because of space, but Bahati was admitted that day. Bahati has hydrocephalus, which left her unable to see. She came the first day and we talked to her mother and knew that she needed a little extra help. The first day she was nervous and cried a lot, but after a few days, we were able to see the true Bahati. She is a feisty little girl who loves to pinch and laughs really hard at everyone’s reaction. She cannot sit or speak, but her mom taught her how to feed herself. She has the best little giggle and we love having her as a part of our family.
Lavender and Micah Nekesa
Name: Lavender and Micah Nekesa
Date of Birth: 2010 and 2011
Medical Condition: Sickle Cell Anemia
These sweet siblings showed up at the gate one day after being dropped off by their mother. Their father had been working for us and these were children from his first wife. They were clearly not being cared for and were sickly and malnourished when they came. They had also never been in school, so we welcomed them in. They were frequently getting sick when we took them for treatment we were told that they both have Sickle Cell Anemia. We were able to get them on medication and have been seeing major changes in their health. They are doing great in school and we are happy to be able to see them learn and grow.
Joshua Kiplimo
Name: Joshua Kiplimo
Date of Birth: 2003
Medical Condition: Cerebral Palsy
I first met Joshua and his brothers Limo and Willy at a wheelchair distribution. His mother was a widow who had three boys who were unable to walk. We saw how hard she was struggling to provide for her boys in the best way that she could and we started helping her. We were able to help Limo and Joshua get surgeries to try to improve the range of motion in their knees. His older brother Limo is currently training with cobbler near his home to be able to learn a skill that could bring him some income. His other brother, Willy, had more severe disabilities and was unable to walk or talk. The older he got, the more difficulties he had and he passed away in November 2017. After a few years, she came back to us and asked if we could take Joshua to school and we gladly agreed. Joshua is constantly giggling and smiling. He can’t walk, but he is able to get all around the compound independently.
See all stories about Joshua here.
Esther Chepkorir
Name: Esther Chepkorir
Date of Birth: 2013
Medical Condition: Cerebral Palsy
We met Esther after getting a call from Daniel Wekesa’s mom about a child in need, so we drove out to see her. She was living with her grandmother, who had Esther plus two other small children in her care. Her daughters kept having children and dropping them off at their mom’s house to be taken care of. The day we went to pick up Esther we met her mother, who talked the entire way to Precious Kids Center about how much of a burden her child was. She is four years old and was unable to walk, but was a little chatterbox. She instantly adapted to her new life at Precious Kids Center and made big improvements after having her nutritional needs met. After only four short months of physical therapy, she began to take her first steps and she is now able to walk independently. Esther is an absolute joy to have around and we can’t wait to see how she continues to improve.
Shirlene Ndanyo
Name: Shirlene Ndanyo
Date of Birth: 2010
Medical Condition: Autism
Shirlene is another one of our boarding school kids who goes home for the school holidays. Her mother brought her one day looking for a safe place for her to learn. Shirlene has Autism and is working on being able to walk independently, but can take steps on her own. Please keep this little one in your prayers. Her health is very up and down and when she gets sick it takes her a long time to recover. We love having Shirlene around and love seeing her sweet smile.
Caleb Wafula
Name: Caleb Wafula
Date of Birth: 2007
Medical Condition: Down Syndrome
Caleb is the sweetest thirteen year old boy you will ever meet. He has one of the best smiles around and is rarely in a bad mood. Caleb’s mom also brought him to the house in hopes to find a school for him. After he was with us for a few weeks we realized that he seemed to have some heart problems so we took him for a check up and an EKG and found that he has two huge holes in his heart and problems with all of the valves. The doctor told us that it is something that could have been repaired if it had been found when he was younger, but it is difficult now at his age. We were told that the prognosis for this condition is not good, but are taking him for a second opinion in September 2018 to see if there is anything else that they can do. Please keep this sweet boy in your prayers.
Darren Wanjala
Name: Darren Wanjala
Date of Birth: July 20, 2016
Medical Condition: Hydrocephalus
Darren is currently our youngest resident at Precious Kids Center. His mother was able to raise the funds to get him an operation to put a shunt in place when he was six months old to keep his Hydrocephalus from progressing but was having problems affording to take him to get therapy weekly. He is almost two years old now and has been with us for six months. He is almost able to stand independently but is not yet talking. He is rarely found playing on his own and the other kids are always carrying him around the compound. He is just the cutest little dude and we love having him around.
Titus (Tito) Ekiru
Name: Titus (Tito) Ekiru
Date of Birth: 2011
I first met Tito in Kitale town. He wasn’t a street boy but would go to town during the day and go home at night. Every time I saw him my heart broke because he was just so little to already be fending for himself and I knew it was just a matter of time until he transitioned to being a full-time street boy. I decided to visit his home and see what the situation was really like. I found his aunt and learned that his father had been murdered and his mother went back to her hometown of Lodwar, a town about 10 hours away, and left her children behind. Tito was living with his sixteen-year-old sister and had never had the opportunity to go to school. Tito is an energetic boy, who is doing great in school and loves hanging out with the other kids in a safe place where he gets to be a kid.
Nehemiah Kipruto
Name: Nehemiah Kipruto
Date of Birth: 2011
Medical Condition: Cerebral Palsy
When we met Nehemiah for the first time, we knew he would be a perfect fit for the center. He comes from a single parent home and his mother struggled to make ends meet and he was not receiving physical therapy. He is seven years old and is unable to walk, but he doesn’t let that stop him from getting where he wants to go. He can speak and has the best smile. He is currently a part of our special unit of the school and will soon be moving to the integrated setting once he masters the skill of being able to write his letters. He is rarely seen without a smile on his face.
Morgan Simiyu
Name: Morgan Simiyu
2013-2018
Morgan came to us through the local children’s officer. His neighbors had brought him and his brother in because the parents had gotten into an argument and left these siblings alone at the house. His brother was taken to another home and Morgan came to stay with us because he has cerebral palsy that made him unable to walk, sit, or talk. Morgan was severely malnourished when he first came to us and spent his first three weeks in the hospital. Once he began eating properly he began to thrive. He instantly smiles when you call his name and reaches out his hand for a handshake. He is a delight to have around.
In March 2018, Morgan passed away unexpectedly.
Jenifer Ameto
Name: Jenifer Ameto
Date of Birth: 2010
Medical Condition: Autism
2018
A visiting team told me that there was a child in a nearby slum that I had to meet. So I drove out to meet Jennifer. When I got there I knew that she would greatly benefit from moving to the center. Their family lived in a house constructed from plastic bags and other bits of trash that they could find. Jennifer is nine years old and has cerebral palsy, autism and cannot speak. When she came she could stand independently, and she is starting to become more confident and taking more and more steps on her own. She loves making her way outside to soak up the sun and can usually be found laughing or giggling alongside the other kids.
Arnold Ouko
Name: Arnold Ouko
Date of Birth: 2006
Medical Condition: Autism
2018
I got a call about a child in a desperate situation and went to meet Arnold. The neighbors had found his mother during an attempt to commit suicide because she was so overwhelmed. Her new husband does not accept Arnold and it was placing a lot of stress on his mother, so we decided that it would be best for Arnold to move to PKC. He is a bundle of energy and is rarely found sitting down. One of his favorite activities is to run full speed from one end of the field to the other with his shirt over his head. He has autism and is nonverbal, but he understands everything that is going on. If he sees one of the house moms doing something he will quietly observe and instantly jump in when they move on to the next activity. He has made some huge progress in his behavior issues since moving in and we love having this little firecracker as part of our family.
Blessing, Christine, and Kevin Nekesa
Name: Blessing, Christine, and Kevin Nekesa
Date of Birth: 2010, 2004, 2006
Medical Condition: Cerebral Palsy (Blessing)
We love having this sweet little trio of siblings at PKC. One thing I love about this family is how much they love little Blessing. Both of her siblings make it a point to spend time with their sister each day and take turns feeding her at meal times.
We first met Blessing at a wheelchair distribution and could tell that she came from a needy family. So we got her mother’s number and scheduled a home visit to follow up with them. We talked to her mother and learned a little more about Blessing. She was born without complications and then got meningitis when she was a year and a half and was unable to walk or talk again. Blessing was hospitalized during this time and her mother learned that both of them were HIV+. After having some more interactions with her mother we learned that she is an alcoholic which made it hard for her to provide the best care for her children. Blessing’s health is very fragile and she goes from being fine to being very sick very quickly. Please join us in keeping this sweet girl in your prayers.
Blessing came to us first, then her mom called us one day about an incident with Christine and a neighbor so we quickly went to pick her up because it was clear that home was not a safe place. We enrolled Christine at Greenfields Primary school where she is a boarding student along with several other children from the center.
Last but not least is Kevin. He is a sweet boy who loves his sisters and makes sure that the first thing he does every morning is to check on Blessing. He is in the second grade and loves playing with his other friends at PKC.
Isaiah Obuko
Name: Isaiah Obuko
Date of Birth: 2008
Medical Condition: Cerebral Palsy
2018
There is a clinic that brings orthopedic doctors to Kitale every other month to check on patients. We had brought several kids to the clinic that day, but I couldn’t keep my eyes off of this one mother with one little boy tied to her back and another young baby she was holding in her arms. It was clear that they were a very needy family, but she was trying her best to help her son. We finished up with our kids and I ran back in to introduce myself. I told her a little bit about Precious Kids Center and she instantly told me that she had really come in hopes of finding a school for her son.
So we scheduled a home visit and ended up bringing Isaiah back with us that day. He is the sweetest ten-year-old boy with cerebral palsy. He crawls all around the compound but is not yet able to walk. He also cannot speak, but he has the sweetest smile. He has gained a lot of weight and strength since coming to PKC and we are looking forward to seeing what the future holds for him.
Nancy Naipanoi
Name: Nancy Naipanoi
Date of Birth: 2011
Medical Condition: Hydrocephalus, Cerebral Palsy
Nancy comes from a part of Kenya that is located about 12 hours away from Kitale. We heard about her, paid her a visit and knew that she would benefit from coming to PKC. She was living with her mother and grandmother in a very rural area where many of the services that she needs were not available. She had a surgery done when she was three months old to remove the extra fluid from her brain, but she is unable to sit, walk, or talk. After moving in she started to develop breathing problems, her health drastically declined and she was hospitalized for three weeks. She is still recovering now and slowly regaining her strength. Please pray that we find the right medication to help her continue to improve.
Miriam Nekesa
Name: Miriam Nekesa
Date of Birth: 2010
Medical Condition: Septal Defect
We got a call from the local children’s officer about a child in need and instantly fell in love with Miriam. She was living with her single father, who also has some developmental delays and he agreed that it would be best if she could be taken to a place where she would be properly cared for. After having Miriam around for a few days we realized that she had a really bad cough and took her to the hospital for treatment. The doctor listened to her chest for a few seconds and referred us for an EKG because he suspected that she had a heart condition. We got the scan and they found that she has a small hole in her heart that needs to be repaired. We will be taking her for a follow-up appointment in September. Miriam loves being with us and she is such a joy to have around. She loves the opportunity to be in school and can usually be found laughing with her two best pals: Malley and Favor.
Matilda Abigail Chemeli
Name: Matilda Abigail Chemeli
Date of Birth: 2010
Medical Condition: Cerebral Palsy
2018
Matilda was living with her grandmother before she came to PKC. Her mother couldn’t handle the stress of caring for a child with a disability and left Matilda with her father and never came back. Her father came to us in search of a school so we accepted her into our boarding program. Matilda has cerebral palsy, but with therapy we are hopeful that she may be able to walk. She has the greatest smile and we can’t wait to see what the future holds for her.
Rhoda Chebet
Name: Rhoda Chebet
Date of Birth: 2016
Medical Condition: Developmental Delays, Epilepsy
Rhoda is the sweetest little 2-year-old you will ever meet. She comes from a town about an hour away from Kitale and we got a call because they were having trouble finding a placement for her. We made the drive out to see her and instantly fell in love after hearing how much she has been through at such a young age. Her mother abandoned her three separate times before they decided to find a permanent placement for her. Rhoda had been temporarily placed at another rescue center, but they were not equipped to care for a child with special needs. Rhoda can sit, but cannot yet walk or talk and seems to have many developmental delays. She has epilepsy, but for now, it is well controlled by her medication. She is now receiving therapy and is working on being able to stand independently.
Joseph Omudi
Name: Joseph Omudi
Date of Birth: 2014
Joseph is Susie’s cousin. Susie was brought to the house after she was found living with her grandmother who was not financially or mentally capable of caring for a child with such high needs. Susie had been with us for about four years when her grandmother showed up at the center with Joseph one day. Joseph came to stay with his grandmother after his mother left him with his father, who is unable to care for him because he was in a motorcycle accident. We took one look at sweet little Joseph and knew we couldn’t say no.
Stellah Apiyo
Name: Stellah Apiyo
Date of Birth: 2010
Medical Condition: Cerebral Palsy
Stella is another one of our boarding school students. She is unable to walk, but she can talk and she is very good at communicating her needs. She comes from a needy family, but it is very clear that she is well loved. Her mother comes to visit her frequently and is always the first parent to come to bring her daughter home for the school holidays. We are glad that we get to spend time with Stella and provide her with the opportunity to have an education.
Brighton Wanjala
Name: Brighton Wanjala
Date of Birth: 2008
Medical Condition: Cerebral Palsy, Speech Delays
Brighton is a sweet ten-year-old boy with cerebral palsy and speech delays. He is unable to walk, but he is able to crawl to get where he wants to go. He always has a big smile on his face and is adjusting well to his new life at PKC. His mother loves him very much and tried her best to care for him, but there was no school near there home that was willing to accommodate him. We took one look at his sweet face and welcomed him into our school and family with open arms.
Michelle Naliaka
Name: Michelle Naliaka
Date of Birth: 2011
Medical Condition: Polio
Michelle comes from a town called Bungoma about two and a half hours away from Kitale. A visiting team had gone there to do a medical clinic and told us that there was a sweet little girl there that needed help. So we made the trek out to see her. We got there and found lots of people at her home and her mother greeted us with a big smile. I grabbed her up and sat down to talk to her mother to learn a little bit more about her. Her mom said that she had no problems until she was three years old and she just woke up one day and had regressed overnight. It took her time to learn how to sit again and to feed herself, but she has not yet learned to walk again. I don’t know much about this family but I do know that Michelle didn’t feel safe or comfortable in that home. She instantly latched on to us and didn’t want to go back with her mother after we held her. Her mom quickly changed her clothes and we loaded her up and she said goodbye. Where she is from there is mostly one tribal group so she didn’t even know Swahili, but readily agreed to go with strangers that didn’t even speak her language. We got to the house and instantly knew that we made the right choice with Michelle. She was happy to meet our staff, many of which are able to communicate with her in her mother tongue, and instantly found new friends. We can’t wait to see what the future holds for Michelle.
Sheila Juma
Name: Sheila Juma
Date of Birth: 2007
2018
Every child’s path to Precious Kids Center is truly unique. Sheila showed up at the gate alone one evening and said that her mother sent her to come stay with us. She was scared and untrusting of the adults around her and kept changing her story. Since we couldn’t get a straight story out of her, we decided to head over to the children’s office so that they would have her case on file and advise us on what to do next. The children’s officer began asking Sheila questions about home and she burst into tears. Her mother died when she was only four years old and her twin sister died shortly after. She was living with her step mother who was very abusive and kept sending her away from her house. Sheila was scared and alone and had seen our kids come to the church near her house so she decided that was her vest bet of finding help. We are so glad to have Sheila around. Her personality is really starting to shine now that she knows that she finally has a safe and loving place to call home.
John Wafula
Name: John Wafula
Date of Birth: August 5, 2016
Medical Condition: Cerebral Palsy
I first met John in November of 2017. He lives near Dan’s mom and she called me to come and pay him a visit. The first time I saw him, he was so tiny and sick looking that I thought it was best that he stay with his mom for a little longer so that he could continue to breastfeed and get the nutrition he needed. When I went back in July 2018 to pay them a follow-up visit I found that John’s health had greatly improved. He gave me the sweetest smile when I called his name and didn’t cry when I held him in my arms. His mother is a total orphan who had no place to go, so she lives with her grandmother. She is only 17 years old and is currently expecting her second child. The grandmother is weak and has some problems walking so we knew that if John stayed there, he would not be able to get the care that he needs. He is two years old and it is best to start therapy for children with cerebral palsy as early as possible. So we talked to his mother and asked how she would like us to help her son and she said that she thought it would be best for him to move to PKC. We love our sweet smiley little John. All of the kids take turns holding him and he is so well loved in his new home.
Mercy Cherop and Elizabeth Chelimo
Name: Mercy Cherop and Elizabeth Chelimo
Date of Birth: March 3, 2012 and August 11, 2014
Medical Condition: Cerebral Palsy
When we went to do a home visit for these girls, we walked in and found only the girls at home lying alone on the bed. Mercy is six years old and Elizabeth is four and neither of them are able to sit independently or speak. Both of their parents are heavy drinkers and the girls suffered because of it.We came back the next week to move them into Precious Kids Center and their mom didn’t even want to come to see where her children would be living. She just wanted us to throw them into the car so that she could go on her way. We convinced her to come so that hopefully she will come visit them from time to time. The girls ate lunch then we decided to take them to the doctor to get a full check up because they both seemed weak. The doctor found that they both had a slight viral infection and we were able to get them medication. However, their biggest problem was malnutrition. Elizabeth has probably never been taken to physical therapy and her little arms and legs are stuck fully bent due to contractures.After just three days at PKC, Mercy began to show us her sweet smile and Elizabeth has started trying to straighten out her legs. We are hoping that with proper nutrition and therapy that they will continue to make big improvements and we are glad to have these sweet sisters with us.
Rachel Violet
Name: Rachel Violet
Date of Birth: 2016
Medical Condition: Cerebral Palsy and Autism
I had gotten several calls about a child who was in need of rescue from two different friends of mine that have big hearts for helping children with disabilities. So I went to visit Rachel. We walked into the house and saw that she had her own little corner set up for her. Rachel has cerebral palsy and Autism, so they had her set up in her corner with enough cushions that she couldn’t hurt herself because if she had the chance she will bang her head the floor.We talked to her grandpa and it was very clear that her grandfather loved her very much, but on his own was having trouble meeting all of her needs. Rachel’s father has a mental illness and is unable to care for his daughter and her mother is around, but due to her father’s mental illness it became difficult for her to stay with Rachel because he was constantly threatening her.So we went to the children’s office and explained her situation and told them that we don’t want her father to know where she will be staying. Rachel’s mother and grandfather agreed that was best and came with us to PKC so that they can come and visit her when they have the time.
Brian Ochieng and Caren
Name: Brian Ochieng
Date of Birth: 2014
Medical Condition: Cerebral Palsy
Name: Caren
Date of Birth: 1996
Medical Condition: Epilepsy
I met Brian and Caren one day at the hospital. The nurses told me they had a case that they needed help with.They told me that his mother, Caren, had epilepsy and mental illness. The story they were told is that someone from Kisumu, a town about four hours away from Kitale, loaded them up onto a taxi and when they arrived there was no one to pick them up. Luckily, the driver sensed that something was not right and brought them to the hospital. They had been there for three months and the hospital social workers had been unsuccessful in their search for any relatives that they could stay with.
Brian is four years old and has cerebral palsy and is unable to sit, walk or talk. He was malnourished because his mother is not capable of understanding and meeting his needs. I talked to his mother and she agreed to him coming to the center to receive therapy and proper nutrition. She asked how many Sundays he would be gone. It broke my heart, but we knew it was what was best for Brian so we brought him to PKC.
Over the next few days I saw Caren everyday and I got to know her a little better and realized that she probably wasn’t mentally ill, but has some cognitive delays due to her epilepsy. I knew if she stayed at the hospital eventually they would send her away and she would be left to fend for herself yet again. I couldn’t get her off of my mind and talked to the social worker the next day and brought her to PKC.
She is doing great in her new environment. We are glad that we have both Brian and his mom with us. Caren is working through all of the trauma of her past that seems to be full of abuse, neglect and being taken advantage of. The sad reality of women with disabilities in Kenya is that they are often taken advantage of by men who see that they are vulnerable. Please pray for Caren as we try to help her slowly unpack these traumas and the things that she has been through in her past. God is truly a healer and we are excited to see how Brian and Caren both heal and thrive at PKC!
Sharon Cheruto
Name: Sharon Cheruto
Date of Birth: 2015
Medical Condition: Developmental Delays due to severe malnutrition
I met Sharon at the District hospital after she was brought in by her grandmother and her mother. Sharon is three years old and weighed 6kgs when they brought her in. She had severe pneumonia and was very weak. The doctors worked hard to treat her illness as well as pump her full of nutritional foods to help her get to a healthy weight.
During her stay at the hospital we got to know her family a little better. Her mother, Linah, has some cognitive delays and is unable to care for her on her own and can do very few things independently. Her mother in law, Beatrice, stayed at the hospital with her for the three weeks it took Sharon to be healthy enough to go home. Beatrice explained that Linah is unable to do most tasks alone and needs to constantly be watched. Linah is also pregnant with twins, so we called Sharon’s dad to come and ask if he would agree to having her come to stay at PKC. He also seems to have some cognitive delays, but he agreed that Sharon would benefit from having a safe place to stay with lots of people around to ensure that she gets proper nutrition.
Sharon is thriving in the few days that she’s been with us. The other kids love carrying her around and she is always smiling. We are blessed to have this sweet little girl with us and can’t wait to see how she improves.
// BOARDING SCHOOL KIDS //
Pascal Wafula
Pascal Wafula
DOB: 2004
When I met Pascal he was living on the streets of Kitale town. There are many boys that leave their homes for various reasons and start living the hard life on the streets of Kitale. Pascal was different. He wasn’t hardened by the tough life in town and was so sweet and joyful. Every day he was the first one to greet me in town and would walk with me the whole time. We went to visit his mom and I learned that his father died suddenly leaving her to care for her six other children on her own. She is an alcoholic and she only stayed with her youngest son. Her other children either live in town or with another sibling. Pascal has adjusted to being off the streets in town and is doing great at the house. He always has a big smile on his face and is always so compassionate and loving towards the other kids at the house. He is also really thriving in the local primary school. He is currently Head Boy for lower primary.
Pascal’s mother was diagnosed with cervical cancer. She is currently undergoing chemotherapy, but her condition is not improving. We usually stop by to visit her twice a month to see how she is doing. As she became too weak to care for her youngest son, Japheth, he came to stay at the house with us. The brothers are so happy to live together.
Their mother, Rose passed away in December 2016. Though he mourns her passing, he is thriving in school and at home.
See all stories about Pascal here.
Emmanuel Juma Wamalwa
Emmanuel Juma Wamalwa
DOB: 2003
We met Emmanuel at Sister Freda’s hospital. Willy was admitted because he had been having a lot of seizures. We went to visit him one night and some people brought in a boy who they found unconscious on the side of the road. He had a seizure and collapsed where he was at night. Willy was there for five days and in that time no one came to visit Manu and his parents live less than a ten-minute walk from the hospital. The house mothers who were there taking care of Willy also made sure that he was fed and took care of him while he was there. I went to visit Willy the day before he was discharged and I told Willy I would come and take him home tomorrow. Manu grabbed by hand and said, “I’m going with you.” So we talked to his parents and they agreed. His parents seem to have a rocky relationship and neglected Manu because of his epilepsy. Manu became very sick a few weeks after moving to the house and we took him to get treated. They did a blood test and found a very high level of Brucellosis in his system. After finishing the medication we realized that he doesn’t have epilepsy and the Brucellosis was causing the seizures. Now that we know this we are able to control his seizures with medication that keep his Brucellosis in check.
In 2015, Manu joined his friends at Greenfields Primary where he is a great student with many friends.
See all stories about Manu here.
Frank Sitati
Frank Sitati
DOB: 2001
I also met Frank when he was living in the streets in town. He was always friendly and happy to greet me. A team came to town and met him and one of the visitors wanted to put him in school. He said that he didn’t want to go stay with his mother and stepfather during school breaks, so we agreed to have him come and stay with us during those times. He is a great student. He was only in school for the last three weeks of school and got the fifth highest test score in the fifth grade at his school. He enjoys learning and also loves children and plays with every child at the house.
In 2018, Frank began attending Anestar Secondary in Nakuru. He is incredibly smart–I wouldn’t be surprised if he grows up to become a doctor.
See all stories about Frank here.
Hillary Juma
Name: Hillary Juma
Date of Birth: 2003
Hillary had a tough life growing up. His father passed away when he was only 3-years-old leaving him with his mother who was an alcoholic. He decided to run away from home and head to the streets when he was only six years old because his mother would lock him in the house alone all night long. He spent two years on the streets before he met his sponsor who decided to take him to school. After so many years of living life on his own, Hillary had a hard time adjusting to life at boarding school and all of the rules that come with it and was constantly running away. When he was in (about) 6th grade he became a resident at Precious Kids Center during the school holidays. It was a hard road to help Hillary get on track and get used to adjusting from his early years. Now Hillary is in the 8th grade and is excelling in school. He is a kind boy, who is very compassionate and helpful with the other kids at the house. We are so proud of all of the progress that he has made and can’t wait to see what God has planned for his future.
See all stories about Hillary here.
Lucy Namoni
Lucy Namoni
DOB: October 28, 2003
Lucy comes from a slum area near the house called Shimo La Tewa. When I first met her, her feet were so full of jiggers that she had to walk on her heals to keep from feeling pain. She has sponsors that placed her in a boarding school, but staying at home during school holidays was difficult for her. One day she came to the house hungry, sick and frustrated. She told me through tears that her alcoholic mother forced her to cook for the whole family and then sent her outside while they all ate and left her hungry. As she was leaving, under her breath she muttered that she is so tired of being home she sometimes thinks it would be better if she would just eat poison. It broke my heart. This sweet little girl was suffering in her home for no reason. So now she stays at the house with the rest of the kids for the school holidays. She is a joy to have around, she loves to sing and play with everyone. It is great to watch her smile and be free in a safe environment.
See all stories about Lucy here.
Augustus Masike
Name: Augustus Masike
DOB: 2002
Augustus was living with his Aunt in a slum area called Shimo La Tewa, after his parents passed away. His Aunt is HIV+ and also is a heavy drinker. Often when a child goes to live with their Aunt they are not given the best care. Augustus had been learning at a local primary school called Purpose Driven Academy. He has an umbillical hernia that was causing him pain and illness. We were told that he needed an operation, so we moved him back to the house. He underwent an operation and fully recovered. Augustus had many difficulties learning to read and write when he first started school. We finally found a school that gave him the support he needs to start reading and writing and he is doing great. He is a great help to the house moms and with the other kids. The smaller children call him “A-gu-gu” and love him very much.
See all stories about Augustus here.
Jabal Simiyu
Name: Jabal Simiyu
Date of Birth: 2003
Medical Condition: Tumoral Calcinosis
Jabal comes from the same part of Kitale as Malley. He was brought to the center one day by a concerned neighbor. Jabal had tumors growing on both of his elbows and on one of his feet. They weren’t painful until they grew to their full size and would burst. We had him taken to the Kitale District Hospital for his first operation, but the pathology results never came back. During his recovery, he stayed with us at the house and then we decided to send him to school with some of the older boys at the house. He had been living with his grandmother, who earns a living by making the local alcohol and she couldn’t afford the treatment that he needed. After his first operation, the tumor grew back in just two months and we took him to another hospital in Kijabe for removal and pathology so that we could find the cause of the problem. He was diagnosed with Tumoral Calicinosis. There is no medicine to prevent the tumors and they will continue to be removed as they appear. Jabal is a happy kid with a great sense of humor that is always putting a smile on everyone’s face.
See all stories about Jabal here.
Stella Khasandi
Name: Stella Khasandi
Date of Birth: 2000
Stella is Marvelous’ big sister. I started supporting this family in 2009 and helping the children go to school. When Stella was little her mother dropped her, Junior and Marvelous off at their Aunt Pamela’s house and would only come back occasionally to visit. Pamela raised these children as her own and they loved her very much. Pamela was HIV+ and passed away in April of 2015 leaving these kids without a place to go. So she moved to Precious Kids Center and is a great addition to the family.
See all stories about Stella here.
Junior Joseph Wanyama
Name: Junior Joseph Wanyama
Date of Birth: 2002
Junior is Marvelous’ big brother. I started supporting this family in 2009 and helping the children go to school. When Stella was little her mother dropped her, Junior and Marvelous off at their Aunt Pamela’s house and would only come back occasionally to visit. Pamela raised these children as her own and they loved her very much. Pamela was HIV+ and passed away in April of 2015 leaving these kids without a place to go. So he moved to Precious Kids Center and is a great addition to the family. In 2018, Junior began studying at Kabuyefwe Boys Secondary School. He is a great student and is always at the top of his class.
See all stories about Junior here.
Allan Wanga
Name: Allan Wanga
Date of Birth: 2002
2018
Allan is the cousin of Junior, Stella and Marvelous. His mother, Pamela, not only cared for her two children, but also many others as well. I started sponsoring Allan in school in 2009 and when his mother passed away in 2015 he came to live with us at Precious Kids Center. In 2018, he began studying at Malava Boys Secondary School. He is a very bright boy who is always number one in school.
See all stories about Allan here.
Ezekiel Juma
Name: Ezekiel Juma
Date of Birth: 2001
Ezekiel was living with Pamela and her family because he had no place to go. His parents had abandoned him at the Kitale District Hospital after he was hit by a motorcycle and broke his shin, ankle and femur. They never came back to visit him and he was living at the hospital for over a year before some friends of mine put him in school. After I helped Pamela build a larger house for herself, she offered to open her home to other boys who needed a place to stay, so Ezekiel moved in with her and became part of the family. When Pamela passed away in 2015 he came to live with us at Precious Kids Center.
See all stories about Ezekiel here.
Emmanuel Wanyonyi
Name: Emmanuel Wanyonyi
Date of Birth: 2004
Emmanuel was living with Pamela and her family because he had no place to go. He left home after his mother, who is an alcoholic, found a new husband who was abusive. He was living on the streets of Kitale when I met him and brought him to stay at Pamela’s so that he could get back in school and have a safe, loving home. When Pamela passed away in 2015 he came to live with us at Precious Kids Center.
See all stories about Emmanuel here.
Joy Aykinyi
Name: Joy Aykinyi
Date of Birth: 2005
Joy is a boarding student at Greenfields primary school and she is in the 6th grade. Her mother is on staff at PKC and the school told me that they were looking for a needy girl to sponsor in school and I instantly thought of Joy. She is a bright girl who loves helping care for her little sister and the other little ones at PKC when she’s not in school.
Abuid Wanjala
Name: Abuid Wanjala
Date of Birth: 2002
2018
Abuid is the oldest brother of Pascal and Japheth, who also live at Precious Kids Center. We originally took Pascal because we found him living on the streets and ended up walking with his mother through her battle with cervical cancer and HIV. After a few years of struggling, we decided to take Japheth because he was much younger and was having to fend for himself. In 2015, her condition began to worsen so we moved ABuid and his mother to a house near the center so that our staff could keep a close eye on them. In December of 2015, she passed away and Abuid became a permanent resident at PKC. He is currently in the 7th grade and enjoys spending time with his brothers and helping to care for the other children during the school holidays.
Mark Kiplimo
Name: Mark Kiplimo
Date of Birth: 2004
Mark is a former street boy that we met in town when we were doing back to school shopping for our other students. He came up and expressed interest in going back to school and we took him to boarding school with the other kids that same day. He told us that his mother left him with his uncle, who is in the 11th grade, and they haven’t heard from her since. Mark is in the 6th grade and loves playing soccer. He is a talkative boy and we love having him around.