By Peter Otuoro
Nakuru City is the latest to be added to the prestigious list, elevating it to a new economic frontier. With it comes the glamour of vibrancy, if only resources can be tapped to attract larger investments. However, for many years it has been known for its notorious gangs and street families. Unlike other cities such as Nairobi, there has been no attempt to rid its streets of the poverty mirrored by the hordes of marauding children.
But hope is shining its little rays, as a cleric takes it upon herself to help as many children as her meagre resources can allow.
Bishop Pamela Ngesa is a mother to many, having adopted many children from the streets of Nakuru. Nevertheless, she is the biological mother of two boys and three girls, whom you can hardly tell apart from the adoptive children.
When Education News visited her, she said her love for children started when she was a child. Whenever she was given pocket money by her parents, she would buy bananas and distribute to Nairobi street children. Little did she know that she was preparing for her life’s mission.
Many years later, Bishop Ngesa is living with children she never bore, many of whom formerly street children while others are orphans.
‘Love for All’ in Ronda Estate is the name she gave to the children’s home, where she offers them shelter, food, clothing and education. Occasionally, she invites motivational speakers to inspire and give them hope in life.
“Through the grace of God I have managed to give them food to eat and clothes to wear,” the Bishop said.
Ngesa said with the help of well-wishers, she purchased the plot on which the home stands, which accommodates the boys, while she stays with the girls in her own house.
She said most of the children are in Umoja Primary School, and others have joined various secondary schools.
“Last year we took 7 to secondary schools and that number doubled to 15 this year,” she said.
They had performed well in their KCPE and admitted to good secondary schools within and outside Nakuru County. They include Stephene Thiango in Molo Academy (375 marks), Whitney Wangeci in Njoro Girls (393 marks), Bonyance Kinuthia in Molo Academy (375 marks), Joyce Kavele who joined Langalanga High School with 322 marks, and Kevin Munyori (367 marks, Migori High).
Bishop Ngesa said ‘Love for All’ children who are pursuing college and university education are Joel Kipkoech in Pwani University (Biochemistry), Austine Omondi in Egerton University studying Law, Eric Juma in Moi University studying Counselling and Physchology, Marion Awino in Bukuru College, Karanja David in Sigalagala Technical Institute, and Kennedy Ndirangu in Rift Valley Institute of Technology, among others.
Joel, with tears in his eyes, narrates how his life was transformed when he met Bishop Ngesa while roaming the streets of Nakuru.
“I was born in 2002 and thrown into the streets in 2010 by abject poverty and domestic violence. I spent two years in the streets, praying every day for God’s mercy,” said Kipkoech.
God answered his prayer in 2012 when he met Bishop Ngesa. He was apprehensive and suspicious at first when she requested him to accompany her to her home; but after her relentless invitations, he thought it was worth giving it a try.
“I accompanied Mama to her home where I took a thorough bath, changed into new clothes and given food to eat. I was surprised to see other children, obviously picked from the street like me,” said Kipkoech.
Despite the efforts of Bishop Ngesa, Kipkoech said it took him two years to be completely rehabilitated from the emotional and psychological toll the streets had taken on him.
He was then admitted to Umoja Primary School in class 6 in 2014.
“I sat my KCPE in 2016, scoring 371 marks to join Jomo Kenyatta Boys Secondary School. Mama took care of all parental responsibilities – shopping, paying school fees and encouraging me to work hard,” he said.
He eventually sat his KCSE in 2017, scoring a B+ and getting admitted to Pwani University, where he is in his second year of study.
