By Philemon Saint, Dinah Mwinzi, Claire Mathijsen | Project leaders Kenya & France
Dear Rafikis,
Our new vision is a pilot project whose aim is to create a sizable shelter to address Gender Based Violence (GBV). It will stand as a comprehensive model with a safe house and accomodation for women & children and boys, medical care, trauma counseling, legal protection, and ecomomic rebuilding/empowerment through skills training accessible in our schools.
On 22nd July 2026, Rafiki Ya Maisha (RYM) entered into a tripartite partnership with My Safe Space (MSS) and Strides Africa to support female athletes, women, girls, and children who are survivors of gender-based violence in Iten, Elgeyo Marakwet County. Iten, home to the world's greatest athletes, is 30 km east of Chepkanga (Eldoret) in Uasin Gishu County.Strides Africa provides shelter and capacity building to female athletes who are survivors of GBV, while My Safe Space (MSS), with Sister Macrina, one of our longstanding members, does the same for women from the County.
The tripartite partnership has joined forces and will register a Trust to combat GBV in the region. In this tripartite effort, Strides Africa will locate land for the Centre, RYM will fund the facility's construction, and MSS will manage the Centre operations.
Koshin Technical Training Institute (KTTI) continues to excel in skills training and has earned national accolades. The Principal Secretary (PS) of the State Department of TVET, Dr Esther Muoria, visited the school on 19th September 2026. The PS commended the institution for excellence in Fashion and Design, Hospitality, Environmental, Cosmetology, ICT training, Agriculture, and Electrical and Building Technology competency programmes. The trainees gained exposure to 114 industries!
KTTI's September 2026 intake attracted 464 new students, and over 728 will graduate in December 2026, the highest ever recorded. Current total enrolment is 2653 trainees.
The Leave No Youth Behind Project (LNYB), supported by the Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA), concluded with a Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) that certified 67 candidates in Cohort 1 and 150 in Cohort 2. The program certifies youth who have acquired skills outside the formal education system. The certification formally recognises their qualifications and facilitates gainful employment.
At Sergoek VTC, the Nurses Aid Course has continued to attract many students since the department moved to the spacious and conducive learning facility at the Old Administration Block.This followed the successful completion and relocation of the old offices to the new building constructed by RYM and equiped by the County Government. Current total enrolment is 576 trainees
I hope you have enjoyed this progress report. I want to thank you all again for your trust and support.
Dr. Dinah Mwinzi, President RYM Kenya & Philemon Saina, VP RYM Kenya
Claire Mathijsen, President RYM International
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