STAFF
Our Kenyan Team
Michael Njenge Wairimu
Michael is an extraordinary man. A single father of two, a hard worker, with a great desire to help and a special heart for people with disabilities. He started by volunteering as a school van driver, but we soon realized that his skills and willingness were essential to leading MATUNDA in Kenya.
Margaret Wambui Wanjiku
Margaret Wambui Wanjiku, our Maggie, is 28 years old and a single mother of two children, one of whom is Adrian, who is 5 years old and has cerebral palsy.
Adrian joined the Special Unit at Oloolua as soon as we learned of his case. Maggie is a very willing and hardworking woman and is a caregiver at the Special Unit of Oloolua Primary School.
Eunice Mdeva Mukhwana
We met Eunice when she was working in construction. She's a very young and determined woman, with great physical strength and a special joy about her. She has four children, one of whom is Peter, who has cerebral palsy and inaugurated the Special Unit at Kibiko Primary School. Eunice works at MATUNDA as a special education classroom assistant.
Salome Wangui
Salome Wangui is the mother of Dwayne, who has cerebral palsy and is a student at Ngong Township Primary School.
She is a cheerful and hardworking woman and her willingness to help other mothers caught our attention from the first moment, for that reason and for the love with which she takes care of the other children, she is the caretaker of the van on our school route.
Thanks to her, our children travel more safely.
Elizabeth Githinji Njoki
Elizabeth Githinji Njoki is a mother of three. Her two youngest children are twins, and one of them, Julius, has cerebral palsy. We met through her niece, who, upon learning what we did, wanted to introduce us to her little cousin. We were immediately struck by Elizabeth's excitement at the prospect of her son finally attending school like all the other children. Julius attends the special education classroom at Oloolua. When the number of special education students at this school made it necessary to hire a second classroom assistant, we didn't hesitate and offered Elizabeth the opportunity to join MATUNDA.
Lear Wangari Muthoni
Lear Wangari Muthoni is 27 years old and a mother of two children, one of whom, Jymo, has autism and attends the Special Unit at Ngong Township Primary School. She is a very strong and dedicated woman. She is now MATUNDA's support caregiver, whom we call upon for help if any of our other caregivers encounter any problems.
Linet Auma Odhiambo
Linet is a hardworking single mother who is always willing to help. When we learned that the Special Unit at Embulbul Primary School needed assistance, she volunteered to help the teachers cook and look after the children. She has a deep love for people with disabilities and takes excellent care of our children, which is why she is now part of the MATUNDA family.
Kevin Nganga Muhuri
Kevin is a friend of Michael's who was also a matatu driver (the most common form of transport in Kenya), just like him. Upon learning what Michael was doing at MATUNDA, he wanted to help and is now the new driver of the second school van.
Esther Waruguru
Esther is a nurse who, since learning about MATUNDA's work, wanted to join the team as a volunteer. Now she is one of MATUNDA's two nurses who look after the safety and health of our children.
Joane Njonjo
Joane is a nurse who has always had a deep compassion for people with disabilities, and upon learning about MATUNDA, she wanted to join as a volunteer. She is now part of the MATUNDA nursing team that cares for all our children in the special education classrooms.
Judy Tekenet
Seeing the need for a new caregiver in the Special Classroom at Ngong Township Primary School, the school recommended Judy to us. She is the mother of a child with a disability and is a very discreet and hardworking woman who has become part of the MATUNDA team, helping to cook and care for the children in the class.
Caroline Mulanda
At Oloolua Primary School we met Caroline, she is the mother of a girl with an intellectual disability and has a love and dedication towards children with disabilities that prompted us to hire her as a classroom caregiver for MATUNDA.
Dolcas Mumbi
Dolcas is the mother of Gerard, a 16-year-old with autism and cerebral palsy. From the moment we met her, we saw in her great courage and strength, as well as a deep love for people with disabilities. Now, she is the cook at Ngong Township School, the school her son attends. Thanks to her, the children enjoy good meals at school.
Nancy Moses
Nancy is a resident of Embul-bul who, upon learning about MATUNDA, asked us for contact information and began encouraging parents in the area to take their children to school, to take them out, not to hide their disability... We saw in her a true missionary and, for that reason, we hired her as an assistant in the special classroom at Embul-bul Primary School.
Damaris Kanyugo
Damaris is the mother of Angel, a girl with autism who is part of MATUNDA and attends Embul-bul Primary School. She is a very strong mother who always looks out for her daughter and strives to support her family. Therefore, when we saw the need for a classroom assistant at Embul-bul Primary School, we thought of her and hired her.
Christopher Karuga
Chris is an extraordinary man. He was a driver for Matatus (like Michael), and from the moment we started MATUNDA, he made himself available to us for anything we needed and showed that he had a special love for children with disabilities. That's why, when we needed a driver for the new school route serving Embul-bul Primary School, we thought of him and hired him.
George Mbubua
George has been Michael's friend since they were young. He drives Boda-boda (motorcycle) and Matatu (van), and when they needed to hire a new van driver, they thought of him. Not only would having a motorcycle driver allow them to transport children and staff more quickly, but they also appreciate his big heart and compassion for people with disabilities.
Lidia Wamboi (Volunteer)
Lidia owns a safari agency and, upon learning about MATUNDA's work, wanted to collaborate. She's not an employee; her help is entirely voluntary. Thanks to her, we have an office provided by her agency, and she also collaborates as a photographer.
ABOUT US
We are the Gómez Samblas family.
Our family consists of Alex and Coro and our eight children: Coro, Asís, Bosco, Bruno, Olaya, Borja (who watches over us from Heaven), Benjamín, and Samuel. Since our first visit to Kenya, we have felt called to share our story and work to support families like ours, with children with physical and/or intellectual disabilities, so that they receive the necessary support to make their lives possible.
We are privileged witnesses to how social support can completely transform the lives of people with disabilities and their families, and allow them to be valued as the immense, unique and unrepeatable gift that each one of them represents for our world.
God is able
And we, an instrument at His service.
