Home taps talent of orphaned children

By Joe Ombuor

We sit sipping fruit juice to entertaining theatrical and dance renditions belted out by orphaned children of Amani Christian Mission Centre.

We are in Siaya County — an obscure location known as Malanga on the busy Kisumu-Busia highway.

It is hot and humid.

Obscure? Malanga in Gem District is home to the late Clem Argwings-Kodhek, Kenya’s first African lawyer, who also served as Minister for Foreign Affairs. He was the first MP for Gem who died in a mysterious road accident along the road in Nairobi after which he is named, in 1969.

"Refreshing juice," I whisper to the centre director, Mr Samson Mayienga, middle-aged man with a serious expression repeatedly broken by a smile.

Students at Amani Christian Mission Centre work in the garden. [Photo: JOE OMBUOR/Standard]

Mayienga and his wife, Melissa have two children living in the US. Of their adopted children, the oldest one, Geoffrey Washiswa from Mumias is a first year Bachelor of Education at Moi University.

Of the 35 in-house children at the home, 10 are students at Argwings Kodhek High School nearby. The 25 in primary schools attend Mutumbu and Malanga Primary schools.

All are orphans, either total or with one destitute parent with no means to fend for them.

Juliet’s mother for instance, is of unsound mind while a brother is serving a life sentence after killing another brother.

Amani pays Sh15, 000 for each secondary school student annually and Sh1,200 for each of its primary school children in addition to footing their food, accommodation and medical expenses. A partnership with Dorcas Aid International has faltered with a policy they took up not to support institutionalised children.

A trained accountant by profession, Mayienga doubles up as an ordained priest.