After 12 years working in Kenya's most marginalized communities; Kibera slums and rural Kitui, we learned isolated interventions fail. Students lack resources; 48% of teachers have no ICT training; counsellor-student ratios average 1:218; mental health crises fuel school fires and student suicides; 70% of parents remain disconnected. Only 22% of 800,000+ annual exam-takers qualify for university. We created Project Msingi because sustainable transformation requires addressing all barriers simultaneously through whole-school ecosystems.
Macheo (2012-present): Every Saturday at Strathmore University, 150 students from 7 schools in Kibera, Mukuru, Kangemi slums receive academic tutoring, peer mentoring by university students, character development, excursions. Parents and teachers receive training. Over 80% transitioned to universities; dozens on scholarships.
Project TAI (2019-present): Peer mentoring for 10,000+ students annually, engaging 250 teachers. Started in rural Kitui, now in Samburu, Turkana, Bondo, Nairobi environs. In-school programming: mentoring, teacher capacity building, parental forums.
eMsingi Platform (2023-present): Digital ecosystem scaling across 132 schools. Teachers access professional development via Google Meets/WhatsApp (120 enrolled, 80% completion). Students engage University of Colorado PhET simulations. 150 guidance counselors access trauma-informed resources. 2,000+ parents listen to Familia Mtaani podcasts. Mobile-accessible, low-connectivity compatible. Five pillars; Subject Content, Teacher Enhancement, Psychosocial Support, Life Skills, Parental Engagement; address barriers simultaneously. Teachers are bedrock; we build communities of practice transforming schools.
Phase 1 (2012-2017): Macheo grew from 25 to 150 students annually across seven schools in three Nairobi slums. Scholarship program started in 2016; two graduates earning first class honours in 2025, 8+ now working for Strathmore University.
Phase 2 (2019-2022): Project TAI replicated Macheo in rural contexts. Started with 5,000 students in 10 Kitui schools, now doubled to 10,000 high school students annually across 6+ counties (Kitui, Samburu, Turkana, Bondo, Nairobi environs) in more than 25 schools. Demonstrated adaptability to rural and semi-arid regions.
Phase 3 (2023-present): eMsingi digitized proven approaches. Growth from 30 to 132 schools in two years. Teachers completing courses recruit colleagues through WhatsApp. County directors facilitate district adoption. Partnerships (University of Colorado Boulder, Nottingham Trent, KICD) accelerate reach. Familia Mtaani spans three continents. Pattern: impact creates advocates driving expansion. From 150 students physically to 10,000+ digitally; infrastructure ready for millions across Africa with proper investment.
2012-2017 (Macheo): Established holistic model; tutoring, mentorship, character development, parental engagement, teacher training, proving barriers require simultaneous intervention.
2019 (Project TAI): Adapted for rural schools, shifting after-school to in-school. Reaching 10,000 students across 6 counties (Kitui, Samburu, Turkana, Bondo, Nairobi environs) with more requests for 2026.
2023 (eMsingi): Digitized for continental scale. WhatsApp delivery for low-connectivity; partnerships (Colorado Boulder PhET, Nottingham Trent curriculum); revenue model; validated psychosocial tools; KICD-aligned CSL; Familia Mtaani podcasts; Communities of Practice for 150 guidance counselors; literacy/numeracy testing; parental content competition; Starlink partnership. Blended model maintains human connection while achieving digital reach across Africa.
Visit emsingi.org & select your pillar of interest for mobile-accessible resources with offline options.
Schools: Explore free resources—email communications@emsingi.org for partnerships.
Teachers: Enrol at elearning.emsingi.org or join WhatsApp communities.
Parents: Listen to Familia Mtaani on emsingi.org or Spotify.
Students: Access gamified content via website or WhatsApp.
All are designed for low-connectivity contexts.
