Happy New Year
On the first morning of 2024, while the city nursed its New Year’s headaches, we chose a different kind of celebration: smoke from the kitchen, songs we didn’t plan, and a queue of children who arrived like confetti.
We kicked off the children’s feeding programme for the year with full plates and full hearts. Youth drifted in to help serve. Elderly neighbours settled on plastic chairs, swapping stories while the smallest ones ate with both hands.
Someone’s grandmother prayed quietly before she ate — not performative, just grateful. A boy tried to keep his new shirt clean and failed immediately. The year began with sauce on sleeves, which feels honest.
It is a strange, sweet way to begin a calendar — not with speeches, but with spoons. We are carrying that same spirit forward: show up, feed honestly, stay kind.
If your January is full of budgets and school fees, know that many families here are doing the same maths with smaller margins. A strong start matters — for bodies, and for hope.
If you welcomed 2024 with resolutions, consider one that tastes like ugali and generosity. Support ETCO’s Saturday meals or walk beside us as a volunteer; we would love to share the work with you.
New Year’s Day is easy to photograph; the rest of the year is harder. We are choosing the harder part — showing up again next week, and the week after.
Thank you to everyone who shared the day — children, youth, elders — and to those who gave quietly so the sufuria could be full before the sun climbed high.
Day 1 Unclogging
Day 1. Today, ETCO in collaboration with the Nairobi Rivers Commission, Phase 3 and Canaan Estate Management, commenced efforts to address the long-standing drainage blockage at the Phase 3 Market Stalls. While this intervention provides a short-term solution to the recurring blockage that frequently causes flooding and related challenges in both Phase 3 and Canaan Estate, as well as inconveniences road users accessing Kibera through Nyayo Highrise Ward via Kibera Access Road, we strongly urge the management of both estates to establish a regular maintenance schedule for the culverts to prevent future clogging. With the anticipated El Niño rains, proactive preparedness is essential to minimize the risk of further property damage, flooding, stormwater-related impacts, and potential loss of life. These ongoing efforts form part of our commitment to protecting the environment, improving drainage systems, and ensuring that rivers and waterways flow freely without obstruction.
Day of an African Child (DAC) - Planning Meeting
Kibera Gender Advocacy Network (KGAN) Meeting at Umande Trust Office to plan for the Day Of an African Child (DAC) on the 16TH June 2026. ETCO is a member organization.
Ngong River Regeneration Network - Zone (1-6)
The Ngong River Regeneration Network Zone Coordinators (Zones 1–6) held a productive meeting with the Commissioners representing the Ngong River, chaired by Commissioner Benjamin Langwen, alongside Commissioners John Kioli and Dr. Loice Jepkemboi Kipkiror, together with Inspector Ashford - NRC Secretariat. The meeting was highly engaging and inspiring, leaving us even more energized and committed to advancing the river restoration agenda. Together, we reaffirmed our shared commitment to not only regenerating our rivers, but also promoting a cleaner environment, encouraging food production through downstream farming, and creating sustainable job opportunities through riverine activities. #NgongRiverRestoration #NairobiRivers #EnvironmentalConservation #RiverRegeneration #ClimateAction #CommunityEmpowerment #GreenJobs