Kenya Facts

Kenya is located on the East coast of Africa. It lies on the equator and is bordered on the north by Sudan, Somalia and Ethopia. Uganda and Lake Victoria lie to the west. Tanzania and Mount Kilimanjaro are to the south while the Indian Ocean lies to the east. It's 582,646 sq km2 and is the world's 47th largest country. 

 
Kenya enjoys a tropical climate experiencing moderate temperatures averaging about 22C throughout the year. It is hot and humid at the coast, temparate inland and dry at the north and northeast parts of the country.

There are two seasons: short rains (October to December) and long rains (March to June) with it's hottest period from January to March.

Kenya has diverse physical features, which are divided into: low lying arid and semi-arid lands, coastal belt, plateau, highlands and the lake basin around Lake Victoria. The country is bisected by the great Rift Valley which extends for 8,700 km. on the surface of the earth from the Dead Sea in Jordan to Beira in Mozambique. Kenya has the second highest snow capped mountain (Mt. Kenya) in Africa rising to a height of 5,199 metres, after Mt. Kilimanjaro. 

Kenya has an estimated population of 34 million people with approximately six million peope living in the urban areas.  Kenya has a diverse population comprising of 42 ethnic groups.

Tallia age 3

Tallia was abandoned by her mother at the age of 2.  When visiting the common market, her mother told her to go play with some kids.  That was the last time she saw her.  Tallia possibly stayed alone for a night or two. She remembers her mother abandoning her.

Tallia is fiesty and comical.  She is in nursery at St. Michael's.

Mugambi age 13

Mugambi is a vibrant boy despite his horrific past. Abandoned by his mother at the age of 9, he was left with a note at his father's home basically saying that this is your child and please take care of him. The mother wanted to remarry and in her tribe children from another man must be returned to their father. However Mugambi did not even know his father.

He waited all day for his father to come home. His father did take him in, but because of stigma and embaressment he locked him in the house for about a year, not allowing him to go to school and basically neglecting him. A neighbour finally rescued him. The hospital report was devastating. He was diagnosed with dermatitis as his skin is so dry. His scrotum was swollen and he had maggots coming from the back of his head. All due to neglect. In the hospital he had to stay in a crib, even though he was around 11 or 12 years of age. He arrived at Toto Love about August of 2009.

Today he is attending school in nursery, way behind for his age. He will be in Class 1 in January. He is very small for his age, with very dry skin and the hair has not grown back on his head where the maggots were. He looks like a little old man.

He is learning english, and we will always remember him saying "goodnight" even in the middle of the day. He was also very excited about our visit to his school.

Njeri age 4

Njeri (pronounce Ne Gerry)

Njeri was abandoned by her father at the Embu hospital in July 2008. He left her at the out patient department drinking a fanta (pop). He lied to her that he would be back with medicine and never returned. Late into the night, all by herself, the hospital guard rescued her and she was taken to the hospital ward for abandoned children. This was her home for the next nine months till May of 2009 when she joined Toto Love.

Njeri had TB and was extremely traumatized by the situation. Little is known about her, and they had to guess her age.

Joy age 8

Joy's mom died during delivery. She had given birth to twins, Joy and another baby who also died within 2 hours after birth. The birth occured at home and without any medical personal the mom bled to death. Joy was taken in by her only maternal aunt who already had 12 children including grandkids and step kids. Life was incredible hard for this lady and even more so when her husband died. Before he died he told his children that Joy was not his child and therefore would not inherit any of the estate. Due to this statement there was so much love lost. This depressd the aunt so much and she sank into depression. Joy, who was only 4 years old, together with a 9 year old grandchild of her aunts would fend for themselves. They would go fetch water from the river, fetch fire wood and cook for themselves.

Joy joind Toto Love in April 2008 and turns 7 years old in March 2010. She will be in Class 1 (grade 1) in January 2010.

Unfortunately her situation traumatized her and the she completely blocked it from her mind. She does not recall where she came from, nor does she recognize her cousins whom she lived with. Joy is the only child at Toto who is not HIV positive.

Gakii age 5

Gakii was born out of a teenage pregnancy, her mother being barely 17 years old. Her mother died 18 months after Gakii was born, leaving her in the care of her grandmother who suffered from depression. Unfortunately, even though she really loved Gakii, she was unable to care for her properly and her tiny feet were infested with jiggers (a type of flea).

She joined Toto Love in February of 2007 when she was only 2 1/2 years old. She celebrated her 5th birthday July 2009.

Catherine age 6

Catherine's mom died when she was only 4 years old after struggling with poverty.  Her father, who was jobless, played both mom and dad.  Catherine's health started to go down hill and she was being admitted to the hospital regularly.  Her oldest sister, who was in Form 2 (grade 11) had to drop out of school to stay at the hospital with her while the father was out looking for work.  Most of the nights the family slept with out eating because the cost of the medication for Catherine was just too high.  The 2 older siblings had to drop out of school at the young ages of 18 and 15, fending for themselves, their ailing father and younger sister.

Catherine came to Toto Love in April of 2009 and will turn 8 in March of 2010.  She will start class 1(grade 1) in January.  Catherine is full of life and has a lot of potential to succeed in life.

 

Allan age 6

Allan's single mom died when he was 18 months old. His siblings love him so much but living in a child headed house hold, they could not adequately take care of him. They were in school and had no regular source of income. To date none of the siblings have a regular job only casual work that does not gurantee enough money to include Allan's needs. Allan, together with Edna, are the pioneer children of Toto having joind the home in December 2005. 

Allan turned 7 years old in September and will join class one in January 2010. 

He inspires Ruth a lot with his tiny body but strong will to live!

Rhoda age 16

Rhoda is a very polite and respectful teenager.  She is in class 8, though she should be in Form 3 (grade 11).  She came to Toto love in 2007 when she was 14.  Rhoda was only 18 months old when her mother died.  She was raised by her grandmother who she thought was her mother.  She learned the truth in 2006 and after several hospital admissions she tested positive to HIV.  This news has devasted her.

Edna age 14

Edna is one of the original orphans of Toto Love. Edna was living with her HIV positive father who repeated raped her.  Her pleas for help were ignored by neighbours for about a year.  She was finally rescued.  When the judge asked her father why he raped her, he said that he knew he was dying and didn't want to leave his daughter behind as an orphan.  Basically he was trying to infect her so she would die too.

Edna is a quiet and gentle teenager who seems to love fashion!  She is very polite and respectful.  She speaks a fair amount of english.  She also has a wonderful appetite! 

Dereck age 12

Dereck is an incredibly bright young man.  He speaks 3 languages fluently, including English.  He is very outgoing and not shy.  He is also HIV positive.  Dereck loves soccer too.  He is in class 5 at St. Michael's.  When asked what he wanted to be when he grows up he answered "an airhostess" (flight attendant)!

Bancy age 13

Bancy grew up not being able to walk due to a leg deformity.  She would crawl out to the streets to beg for food to feed her sick mom, with Aids, and herself.  Unfortunately Bancy watched her mother die right in front of her, while feeding her.

She was sent to live with her aunts who were making illegal brew.  Bancy's aunts had found her a wheelchair and they would place her right at the front door to slow down any possible police raids.  They often "rented" out the wheelchair for money to town folk, leaving Bansy to crawl around.

Finally Bancy was rescued and brought to Toto Love in September of 2007.  She received surgery to correct her deformity and can now walk.  To see her you would never know that she just learned to walk a few years ago.

Bancy is illiterate, however is attending school in Embu.  She is currently in class 3.  She doesn't speak English yet....but I am sure she will learn quickly.  She does speak Swahili and Kiembu the local language.  

She is loving and caring considering her upbringing.  She loves to hold hands and play with and style people's hair.