Change Lives through Quality Education in Kenya

Currently in Koinonia:

• 10% of students pay full tuition.
• 7% are children of staff members.
• 83% require sponsorship support.

For sponsored students, they pay approximately 10% of their school fee, while the remaining 90% is covered through Koinonia’s supports.

Many of this year’s new students come from families struggling to secure even their daily meals. Some high school students, despite achieving excellent academic results, were unable to enroll in public secondary schools because of the cost of tuition. After the school year had already begun, they came to Koinonia seeking an opportunity to continue their education.

Many parents have embraced Koinonia’s vision and educational environment. They often seek assistance from relatives, neighbors, and church members to raise part of the required school fee. Whether they will be able to pay the remainder during the term remains uncertain.

Koinonia exists to provide these children with a chance to learn. More than academic success, we hope that each student will encounter Jesus Christ and develop a desire to live in service to God and others.

The new students are enjoying their daily lives at Koinonia, making full use of our spacious classrooms and playgrounds.

Koinonia Farm

We grow the vegetable served in our school meals.

We cultivate a variety of vegetables including onions, tomatoes, kale, spinach, cabbage, pumpkins, sweet potatoes, green peas, and traditional Kenyan leafy vegetables. These crops are prepared into nutritious meals for our students.

The water used for farming comes from reservoirs that collect rainwater during the rainy season. This stored water sustains our crops throughout the dry season.

Although staple foods such as ugali (maize meal), rice, wheat flour for chapati, and beans are purchased, most of our vegetables are produced on-site.

Our hope is to provide meat and fresh fruit more frequently in the future so that students can enjoy a more balanced diet.

Parents’ Meeting

On February 25, we held our first parents’ meeting of the year, achieving an attendance rate of 95%.

At Koinonia, parents and teachers work together to nurture each student’s growth through open communication and partnership. Attending parent meetings is one of the most fundamental commitments expected of families.

Despite being held on a weekday, parents attended enthusiastically, learning more about Koinonia’s educational philosophy and meeting with homeroom teachers to discuss their children’s progress.

The Joy of Sharing Meals Together

Beginning this year, all students—from kindergarten through high school—as well as teachers, are able to share meals together.

Students from Grade 1 through Grade 12 sit together at mixed-age tables. Teachers also join them. Responsibilities such as serving food and cleaning up rotate among the students, helping them learn responsibility and cooperation.

Older students are encouraged to care for and support younger students, strengthening our sense of community and family.

Teacher Spotlight: Ms. Nthiwa

For the past 15 years, I have served at Koinonia Education Centre as both a kindergarten and primary school teacher.

I am grateful for the opportunity not only to support students academically, but also to help them grow in heart and spirit.

Daily chapel services, Bible study, and servant leadership classes have transformed not only our students but also my own life.

Whenever I hear testimonies of former students growing into leaders who love God and serve others, I am deeply encouraged. These stories remind me that God has prepared a wonderful future for each child.

Being allowed to play a small part in their lives brings me great joy and motivates me to continue this work.

Koinonia also provides teachers with opportunities to organize and lead various school events. These experiences have benefited my life, church ministry, and many other areas beyond the school.

Over these 15 years, I have grown tremendously as a person, and I am sincerely thankful for the opportunity to serve as a member of the Koinonia community.

A New Year at Koinonia – 2026

The year 2026 has begun, and 156 students—from kindergarten to high school—are now learning and growing at Koinonia. Sixteen percent of our students are able to pay full tuition, while the remaining 84% contribute 10% of the fees and rely on sponsorship to continue their education.

Many families choose Koinonia not only for its academics, but because they hear that this is a place where each child’s unique gifts are discovered, nurtured, and developed. Students grow in confidence as they learn to appreciate the abilities God has given them.

From Grade 1 to Grade 9, every student participates weekly in swimming, athletics, dance, music, instrumental performance, and art classes. Beginning in Grade 7, they also join basketball, table tennis, brass band, and cooking. From Grade 10 onward, students choose their areas of strength and passion, and work to refine their skills.

At last year’s Christmas Concert, many talents shone brightly—through dance, vocal music, brass band, and beautiful brass ensemble performances.

We are especially encouraged by students who entered Koinonia in kindergarten or Grade 1; by the time they reach junior high and high school students, their gifts begin to flourish remarkably.

This year, many opportunities are planned for the children of Koinonia to shine. 

In February, we will hold our Swimming Gala, followed by the Regional Athletics Meet and a Basketball Tournament in March. We look forward to seeing our students perform and grow.

In May, our students will participate in the Music Festival. Last year, one of our soprano soloists and a trumpet player advanced to the county level. This year, they are aiming even higher and have already begun their training. Our table tennis team has also started intensive practice in preparation for the May tournament.

We expect that 2026 will be a year filled with many good reports and wonderful achievements from our students—and we look forward to sharing that joy with all of you.

Sara Ichihashi, The founder of Koinonia

2026 Focus Point: COURT FOR CONFIDENCE

Basketball is one of the most popular sports among our children.
This year, our goal is to build a basketball court that will help our students grow in confidence, teamwork, and discipline.

A safe, level, and well-constructed court is essential for our students to train and develop their God-given abilities.

Amos:

"I joined Koinonia in 2024, and that was the first time I learned about basketball and became part of the team. Playing as a team is so much fun. The difficult part is that in the afternoons, strong winds blow across the field, and we have to practice in the dust. Sand gets in my eyes, and I sometimes breathe in the dust. Even so, I want to reach the county tournament this year."

Josephine:

"Before coming to Koinonia, the only sport I had ever played was football. Because I am tall and a fast runner, coach encouraged me to try basketball, and I joined the team. At first, I was afraid to go for the ball, but now I have improved in passing and shooting. Dribbling is still not my strength. The current court is uneven, so it’s difficult to dribble well, and that is what I struggle with most."

Coach Mr. Tuisang:

"I have been teaching PE at Koinonia for 12 years. When Koinonia moved to Mai Mahiu in 2020, we finally gained enough space to properly engage in sports activities. In 2022, we formed our first basketball team and have been training consistently since then. As a certified international basketball referee, I am committed to building strong junior high and high school basketball teams at Koinonia. To make this possible, a proper basketball court is essential. I respectfully ask for your support."

Many of our students discover their athletic abilities for the first time after joining Koinonia. They also learn the value of teamwork. Our mission is to help them fully develop their God-given abilities and grow in body, mind, and spirit. I take seriously the responsibility of nurturing their physical development.

After our move to Mai Mahiu in 2020, we were able to improve the school grounds, and by 2022 a running track was completed. Although we have space designated for basketball, we still do not have a finished court. To strengthen our team and to give more students the chance to discover and develop their athletic potential through basketball, we kindly ask for your support.

We warmly ask for your support to make this vision a reality.

[Basketball Court Construction]

The Total Budget : 1,300,000 KES  (approximately USD 10,000)

Breakdown:

• Two basketball courts (40m × 40m, concrete surface): 950,000 KES
• Goal posts and rims: 100,000 KES
• Net fencing (posts and net): 250,000 KES