Kibera Pride Childrens Home entrance./Photo; Christabel Adhiambo
In the informal settlements of Kibera, survival often outweighs childhood. For many children, the reality of life here means growing up in unstable households, with parents who struggle to provide food, clothing, education, or medical care.
The settlement has long been associated with high levels of unemployment, drug abuse, gender-based violence, and child neglect.
In such an environment, children are among the most vulnerable.
Some lose their parents early, others face violence within their homes, and many grow up without a chance to go to school.
Without support, the cycle of poverty often continues, passing from one generation to the next.
It is in this context that organisations like the Kibera Pride Initiative (KPI) have stepped in to provide children with care, protection, and opportunities to pursue education and personal growth.
The stories of those who have passed through the centre highlight both the challenges of life in Kibera and the power of community-driven solutions.
“A child belongs to the mother only while pregnant; once they are born, they belong to the whole society. Therefore, it is right for the whole society to take part in pooling hands to support vulnerable children across the country,” explained Lucy Odhiambo, KPI Manager.
Finding a new beginning
One of those who knows the difference the organisation can make is Gasper Icheji.
Now in his final year of a bachelor’s degree in economics at Moi University, he recalled how difficult his early years were before he was taken in by the centre.
“Before joining Kibera Pride, life was a bit difficult in terms of basic needs and school. Getting even one meal a day, proper clothing, or education was a problem. My parents were unable to afford them for me,” he remembered.
When he was in class six, a neighbour who had seen his struggles brought him to the organisation.
After the necessary legal procedures were completed, Gasper was admitted.
From that point, he says, his life began to change.
“They have supported me throughout my education, right from primary school up to university. I joined Kibera Pride in class six, and now I am in my final year, waiting to graduate in December. They have given me education, shelter, food, mentorship, and a new family,” he reflected.
Gasper still faces challenges as a young adult, especially in university, where he has to meet personal needs and learn to be independent.
But he speaks with gratitude about the journey he has had, recognising that without the intervention of the organisation, he might not have reached this far.
“From deep down, I thank Kibera Pride for the support they have given me over the years, for the chance to access education and other basic needs, and for the siblings I have grown up with here. I can only urge them to continue with that spirit of helping,” he expressed.
A safe place away from violence
Another young person whose life has been shaped by the organisation is Maggie Atieno.
At 22, she is a second-year student at the Kenya Medical Training College.
Looking back, she believes her path would have been very different had she remained in her father’s home.
“My father was very violent,” she recounted.
“It was my class teacher who intervened and took me to the chief and that is how I was brought to Kibera Pride when I was just in class six.”
Since joining, she explained, the organisation has provided for her needs and ensured that her school fees are paid.
She appreciates that the centre does not cut off children from their families despite the circumstances in which they part from them.
Upon request, a few procedures are followed and one is allowed to maintain contact with their families.
“I would proudly say that I now have two families. At Kibera Pride, I have found a home and a family that has raised me with love, peace, and happiness. Looking back, if I had remained with my father things would have been totally different, and chances are high I would not have enrolled in college,” she noted.
Maggie believes the environment at the centre gave her the stability she needed to grow.
“I have been able to access everything I ever needed while growing up, from personal needs to comfort needs. I am very grateful for the support and love I have gotten here,” she added.
Building a circle of care
Behind these stories is the work of the Kibera Pride Initiative, led by manager Lucy and supported by a small team under the leadership of the founder Irene Kasandi.
The organisation was started in 2012 by Kasandi, who grew up in Kibera and was herself supported through education.
Motivated by the challenges she had seen in her community, she set out to create a safe place for children facing neglect, abuse, or abandonment.
A year later, KPI was officially registered as an NGO.
Today, Kibera Pride runs a range of programmes, including child protection and advocacy, a children’s home for those aged six months to 22 years, educational sponsorships, a daycare, feeding and mentorship programmes, health and wellbeing initiatives, family empowerment, and volunteering opportunities.
The organisation also runs an art gallery that provides children with a platform to explore photography, drawing, recycled art, and canvas work.
At present, 58 children are under its care, though the number often fluctuates with school schedules since many of them are in boarding schools.
Over the years, more than 420 children have been admitted, with many successfully reintegrated back into their families.
Lucy outlined how children are brought to the centre.
“If a child is identified by the community, neighbours, us, the Children’s Office, or community health workers, we go to the Children’s Office for assessment. If the environment is found unsafe, the Children’s Officer writes a letter allowing the child to come to the centre,” she explained.
The cases vary widely. Some are lost-and-found children who are brought in by the police, and others are victims of sexual abuse who need to be removed from unsafe environments while legal cases continue.
There are also abandoned and neglected children, each with a different story and an official letter confirming their placement.
Reintegration is part of the work, especially for lost children, but many remain at the centre for years as they pursue their education.
Achievements and challenges
Despite limited resources, Kibera Pride has achieved notable milestones.
It has supported more than 150 children through educational sponsorships, hosted over 100 volunteers from Kenya and abroad, and empowered around 140 families through economic support and spiritual programmes.
Some of its children have progressed to university, with one already pursuing a football career abroad, while others are awaiting graduation.
However, the challenges are heavy. The centre operates from rented premises, making it difficult to expand or renovate.
It struggles to provide enough school fees, meals, and medical care for all the children.
Health costs are especially demanding, since public hospitals often prescribe medicine that the centre must buy.
“We do not have a large staff. We need more counsellors and therapists, because many children come with trauma and need professional support,” Lucy emphasised.
“The number of child cases in Kibera is overwhelming, and we cannot solve all of them.”
Funding remains a major concern.
While the organisation once had regular supporters, many stopped during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Today, it depends largely on individual donations and well-wishers.
Sustaining hope for the future
For now, the organisation’s vision is to continue creating a circle of protection and empowerment for children.
In the next ten years, the hope is to secure land or premises to build a bigger home, expand sustainable programmes, and continue shaping children into responsible citizens.
Lucy’s message for those who might want to support the cause was that help does not have to be monetary.
She pointed out that offering time, skills, or services like counselling is very valuable.
To those running similar initiatives, she advised close collaboration with government bodies like the Children’s Office and the police, transparency in operations, and adherence to legal procedures.
“Do not take a child without informing the authorities, because you could be accused of stealing the child,” she cautioned.
“Know your legal limits and always involve the relevant authorities before taking a child into your care. That way you will run a safer, smarter programme.”
Lucy reaffirmed that Kibera Pride Initiative will continue to stand as a reminder that even in the midst of hardship, solutions can be built within communities, changing the course of young lives and offering hope where it is most needed.
