Families in Nairobi, Kenya usually share a 12-by-12-foot space constructed from corrugated iron sheets for the walls, steel for the roofs, clay, metal, and bits of timber. For most homes, the floor is bare earth; there are usually no windows and just one door. Toilets and showers are also rare, and many families have to use neighbor or communal facilities. Considering these harsh realities, it can be extremely difficult to envision living in Nairobi, Kenya. When I attempt to do this, I think of the women in households who bear the responsibility of collecting unclean water from nearby rivers, obtaining and preparing food, and caring for the children.

Maria is an alumnus of the His Little Feet program and was a member of the 2018-19′ HLF choir. She lives with her mother and two siblings in a two-room home. The roof on the house has many holes that cause flooding. As they are in close proximity of a ditch, their home can easily flood during heavy rains. Additionally, although they have a toilet, it is in very poor condition. The goal of HLF is to install a metal roof, a concrete wall to prevent flooding, and construct a new toilet and shower space. The total cost of Maria’s Home renovation project is $111,120 (~$900.)

Esther is currently a member of the HLF choir. When she returns to Kenya, she will be living with her mom, dad, and two siblings. They reside in a one-room home that has numerous structural issues. The children sleep on mattresses on the floor and during the rain, they struggle to sleep due to the water that enters through the roof. Additionally, there is no toilet within their compound and therefore, they walk several meters to a neighbor’s house to use their facilities. After a professional evaluation of the home, it was concluded that the structure is too deteriorated to be salvaged.

Given the available space on the family’s plot, HLF has decided to construct two rooms, a kitchen, and an outhouse for the toilet and shower with a concrete floor and a stone foundation to prevent water from entering. The total cost of this project is $285,300 (~$2,300.) The CrossCity Missions team was able to assist the construction team for this project.

Skyler will be participating in the 2026-2027 HLF choir. She lives with her mother and two siblings in a two-room house constructed of mud. The walls have deteriorated over time, prompting them to attempt to reinforce the exterior with rusted metal. However, this metal is riddled with holes, leaving the home vulnerable to rain. Additionally, they do not have a toilet and must walk several meters to a neighbor’s house to use their facilities. After a visit with a professional, it was determined that the existing structure is too compromised to salvage. Given the available space on their plot, it has been decided to build a new home with four rooms: two bedrooms, a living room, a kitchen, and a bathroom. We will also add a covered verandah (a roofed, open-aired porch) where her mother, Sarah, can conduct her sewing business. The total cost of this construction project is $481,500 (~$3,852.) The Crosscity Missions Team was able to assist the construction team for this project as well.

Lucy will be participating in the 2026-2027 HLF choir. She lives with her mother and two siblings in a one-room house measuring 5 by 8 feet, which can only accommodate a bed and a few personal items. The land on which their house is located belongs to Lucy’s grandparents. Therefore, the compound is home to four families: Lucy’s family, her grandparents, and her two aunts along with their families. Due to limited funds, the homes are very small and poorly constructed.

During a consultation with construction professionals, it was determined that extensive remodeling would be necessary for about half of the plot to allow Lucy’s family to have more living space. They will be building two rooms measuring 12 by 12 feet, a kitchen measuring 8 by 8 feet, and a bathroom. The total cost of this construction projects is $308,980 (~$2,500.)