Giving abandoned babies a loving start in life!

Introduction

Macheo continues to provide infants with a safe, nurturing environment where they can thrive and enjoy healthy lives. While offering temporary care, we work toward sustainable long-term solutions, including family reunification, foster care placement, and adoption. This report highlights our key achievements, progress, and challenges during the period from January to April 2026.

What went well

From January to April 2026, we provided a safe, nurturing, and protective environment for babies who experienced abandonment, abuse, or neglect. Our team ensured that each child received the care, attention, and support needed to promote their well-being and development.

We cared for a total of nine babies, successfully transitioning two of them into family-based care arrangements. All children attended scheduled medical check-ups and received their vaccinations on time, helping to maintain their health and support their growth.

In addition, we received donations and hospital fee waivers valued at $512 (KSh 66,000). This support significantly reduced operational expenses and enabled us to remain within the approved budget while continuing to deliver quality care.

What challenges did we face?

Alongside these achievements, we also faced several challenges. Tracing and identifying suitable family placements for abandoned babies remained difficult due to the limited information available about many of the children. As a result, efforts to locate and reunite them with their families were often lengthy and complex.

One child experienced significant health challenges and required frequent hospital admissions and medical attention. He was hospitalized for one month and is likely to require ongoing clinic visits to manage his condition. In addition, several babies and their caregivers experienced illness during this period, placing additional demands on caregiving and healthcare resources.

We were also unable to enroll the children in the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) medical cover, as the policy guidelines for children living in children's homes have not yet been finalized and released. We will continue to engage with the relevant government authorities and follow up on this matter to ensure the children can access this important healthcare support in the future.

The impact of your support to Daniel's life

Daniel (Not his actual name) was only 1year old when he was admitted to Macheo Children’s Home on 30th December 2025.  He had been rescued by a kind well-wisher and taken to Police Station because his mother was neglecting him.  The mother was arrested and taken to Police Station.  At first, Daniel was taken to a neighbouring Children’s Centre for care and protection. However, the centre could not take care of infants considering that they didn’t have a facility for young children, he was later transferred to Macheo, where there are proper facilities for young children like him.

When Daniel arrived at the Macheo Baby House, he was warmly welcomed by caregivers and social workers. He received the love, care, and attention he needed. The nurse also took him for a full medical check-up, and he was found to be generally healthy. However, during one of his clinic visits, he was diagnosed with rickets. He was given supplements and a special support to help strengthen his legs.

While Daniel was at Macheo, efforts to find his wider family began. This was through the lead that the mother had given when she was arrested.  Because Macheo believes every child deserves to grow up in a family, the social workers immediately started tracing the family. They successfully found the home and met Daniel’s grandmother. They carried out a social inquiry to better understand the family situation. It was discovered that Daniel’s maternal grandfather had passed away in 2011. 

During the discussions, Daniel’s grandmother expressed her willingness to take care of him, saying he belongs to their family. The social workers assessed the home to ensure it was safe for Daniel. They found that the family lived on their own land, in a house that was in good condition, and the environment was suitable for raising a child. However, they needed a bed and bedding for Daniel, which Macheo provided. The grandmother was also supported with basic needs and helped to start a small income-generating activity to support the family. Arrangements were also made for Daniel to continue receiving medical care for his legs at a nearby hospital.

Later, Daniel’s grandmother was invited to Macheo for bonding. She stayed for a few days, spending time with Daniel, and their bond grew stronger each day.  After confirming that both Daniel and his grandmother were ready, they were reunited on 24th March 2026.  Daniel received a warm welcome from the family members. The reunification process was completed at Sub-County Children’s Office. Macheo will continue to follow up and support the family to ensure that Daniel grows up in a safe, loving, and stable home.

We have not included their real names. This is done to preserve the identity of these of this participants.

Thank you!

We extend our heartfelt gratitude for your continued support of Macheo. Your generosity makes it possible for us to reach and assist more people in need. Through your partnership, we are able to continue providing vital care and support to those who depend on our services. Thank you for making this work possible.

Thank you very much!

Links:

• Learn more about our work on through our website

BABY HOUSE REPORT JAN - DEC 2025

Introduction 

Macheo provides babies with a safe, loving environment where they can grow and live healthy lives. We offer temporary care as we work toward long-term solutions such as family reunification, foster care, or adoption. This report highlights our achievements and challenges from January to December 2025.

Success

During this period, we provided a safe and caring home for children who were abandoned, abused, or neglected, making sure they received love and protection. We cared for 19 children and placed 12 of them into family-based care. All children were taken for medical checkups on time and received their scheduled immunizations.

Our staff received training on feedback culture, which helped them improve how they give and receive constructive feedback. We also received in-kind donations and hospital waivers worth Ksh 127,000. This support reduced our expenses and helped us stay within the set unit cost.

Challenges

Even with the achievements, we faced several difficulties. It was hard to find families for abandoned babies because there is very little information about them, making tracing slow and challenging. The legal process was also slow. Some children still needed to appear in court, and many of their cases were postponed several times. This made planning for their future difficult and caused them to stay in the Baby House longer than expected. We had one child with health problems who underwent surgery, and because of the complications, he may need another surgery after six months.

We were also unable to register our children under the SHIF medical cover because the policy for children in residential care has not yet been released. We will continue following up with the government on this matter. 

Baby Jonah's Story

When Jonah was found, he was just about a week old, tiny, fragile, and alone in the world. Abandoned and without anyone to care for him, a kind member of the public rescued him and brought him to safety. On 1st January 2023, Jonah was placed at Macheo Children’s Home for care and protection.

From the very beginning, Jonah’s journey was not easy. He faced several health challenges, dehydration, mild jaundice, eczema, bowed legs, and recurrent fevers that didn’t respond to medication. There were nights when he couldn’t sleep, and days when he suffered convulsions. Yet, through it all, the nurse, the social workers the caregivers at Macheo never gave up on him. With patience, dedication, and a lot of love, they nursed him back to health, celebrating each small improvement as a victory. Over time, Jonah grew stronger; his tiny body began to heal, and his once weary eyes started to shine with life.

Jonah also received weekly therapy sessions that supported his growth and helped him reach his developmental milestones. While social workers worked tirelessly to trace his biological family, their efforts bore no fruit. But hope was not lost, a new chapter awaited Jonah.

An adoption process was initiated, and soon, a loving couple was identified as his prospective parents. When they came to Macheo to meet him, something special happened. During their one week bonding period, Jonah responded with joy and affection, as if he knew he had finally found a family of his own. The love that blossomed between them was truly heartwarming, a bond built on care, tenderness, and hope. Jonah was reunited with the adoptive parents on 20th of December 2024.

Today, Jonah lives happily with his adoptive parents, surrounded by love, laughter, and the warmth of a real home. Follow-ups have shown that he continues to thrive, healthy, joyful, and deeply cherished.

From a fragile newborn fighting to survive to a thriving little boy embraced by love, Jonah’s story reminds us that every child deserves a chance and that with compassion, healing, and hope, even the smallest lives can shine the brightest.

This is not his actual name. This is done to preserve the identity of this participant.

Thank you

We thank you sincerely for your support to Macheo, which enables us to help more people. It is only because of your support that we are able to continue helping people who need our assistance.

Thank you very much!