I was born in 2010 in Kavela, Meru County, the third born in my family. My early life was marked by hardship. After my parents separated, my siblings and I moved with our mother to Mlango Kubwa in Nairobi. We lived in a dilapidated iron-sheet shack that flooded whenever it rained. My mother, unemployed and struggling, often couldn’t afford basic necessities. Many days we had only one meal—or none at all.

Although I initially enrolled in school, I had to stop attending regularly because of unpaid fees. In 2023, I dropped out entirely to take on domestic responsibilities while my mother sought casual work in Eastleigh. To help, I started spending time on the streets, joining other children at the Mlango Roundabout on Juja Road. I begged for food and money, often receiving help from kind people near the mosques in Eastleigh. Any money I received, I gave to my mother. I also did casual jobs like washing clothes to support my family.

One day, social workers from Rescue Dada Centre found me during one of their routine street outreach visits. I was rescued and enrolled in their residential rehabilitation program, where I received psychosocial support, education, and tutoring. With the help of counsellors, my behaviour and attitude improved greatly. Meanwhile, my mother was trained in parenting and business skills in preparation for our family’s reunification.

Eventually, I was reintegrated into my family and enrolled at Juja Road Primary School. I’m now in Grade 8, attending regularly, and performing well. Our family’s life has changed significantly. My mother, now economically empowered, runs a thriving business. Our home is stable, and we enjoy three meals a day. All my siblings are also back in school, a reflection of how far we’ve come.

I look forward to completing my education and building a better future.