Roots Institute Centre was founded by the school's current Director, Madam Mary.
Previously working in an orphanage and living in Mathare, Madam Mary understood the absolute necessity of giving these children an education.
With the means at her disposal, she took on the responsibility of providing them with an education. In the early years, she taught in the narrow streets of the shantytown, with the children sitting on stones.
Roots Institute Centre was born, with 7 pupils.
Madame Mary was later joined by Godfrey and Daniel.
Both born in Mathare, they now head up Nai Nami a social enterprise that offers tourists an experience of downtown Nairobi through the eyes of former street children.
All the guides, including Godfrey and Daniel, were born in Mathare and, for various reasons, fled their families as children to seek refuge on the streets of the city center.
During the tour, they share their personal stories and experiences as street children.
In recognition of the help Madam Mary had given them, and because they were not fortunate enough to have access to a school education from an early age, they decided to support her project. Using the income generated by Nai Nami, they first provided food for the children, then rented five rooms scattered around the slum to serve as classrooms, and also acquired the bare minimum of necessary materials.
Before the Covid pandemic, the school had 80 children.
2021 - First Land Acquisition & School Consolidation
In 2021, we took a major step forward by acquiring our first piece of land — a crucial move that allowed us to become independent from landlords and finally begin transforming the learning spaces according to our vision. For the first time, all classrooms were brought together on a single site. By the end of the school year, we had enrolled 243 children.
2022 - Launch of High School Sponsorship Program
As we continued to grow, we introduced our High School Sponsorship Program, allowing 11 students (7 girls and 4 boys) from Roots Institute Centre to join boarding schools with full financial support. These students were selected based on their KCPE results, personal stories, and potential Without this vital support, many of them would have been forced to drop out of school entirely and turn to informal work to survive.
2024 - Enriching the School Experience
Thanks to the unwavering support of our generous sponsors, 2024 marked a transformative chapter in our journey. We launched new extracurricular activities including creative arts, dance, and music, enriching our students’ personal and emotional development.
We also enhanced our Feeding Program to provide more nutritious meals and improved learning conditions through the acquisition of essential materials - making a real difference in the daily lives of our children.
By the end of the school year, 380 children were enrolled.
2025 - Upgrading Learning Conditions
At the end of the 2024 school year, we carried out a series of major renovations to improve the physical environment of the school and ensure better learning conditions for 2025. We replaced the old, perforated iron sheets and reconstructed 90% of the roof, raising its height to enhance ventilation.
We also renovated 90% of the classroom floors and corridors, resized classrooms to improve balance and functionality, and installed a firewood-powered Jiko (stove) with a chimney in the kitchen to support more efficient and safer meal preparation.
450 kids are enrolled in the school today.
