Our History

ByGrace Trust is a registered 501(c)(3) Non-Profit Charitable Organization, in the US and a registered trust Kenya, which arose when the founders, Stephen and Rosemary Mbogo, started addressing the dire needs of orphaned, destitute and at-risk children in the Nairobi Kenya) slums in 2004.

Stephen and Rosemary Mbogo’s hearts broke for the children on the streets, the orphaned and the many extremely impoverished. They chose not to walk away from such desperate needs. One by one, Stephen and Rosemary began welcoming children into their home.

At ByGrace Children’s Home, we prefer to avoid using the term orphanage when referring to the children’s living situation. For this reason, ByGrace Children’s Home instead “adopts” these children into their special family and employs caregivers that step into the role of parental figures for the children. The Home children enjoy a small number of dedicated caregivers that provide each child with the opportunity to be part of a family, instead of an institution. Stephen, Rosemary and the Home staff view each child as their own and strive to create a holistic environment in which the children are safe, secure and loved, and can learn, thrive and grow to their full potential.

In addition to offering residential care to those who desparately need it, ByGrace offers community based care in various Kenyan geographical locations in partnership with local churches.

Currently, ByGrace Trust's sponsored children have the priviledge of attending Tumaini School (2003) and ByGrace Schools (Kindergaten, Primary and High School) Ngong; all which the Mbogos founded, in 2003 and 2005 respectively, when they pastored the Living Word Church (Mathare North). Additionally, ByGrace Trust sponsors children at the Living Kids Educational Center in Githurai (2004), Liberty Hope Academy in Eldoret (2006); Shemot Elites Academy in Kericho (2017); and Westwood Academy in Mathare North (2018), all started by the Mbogos Mathare North ministry associates, assistants and/or mentees.

Our Timelines

• 1999 – Mbogos begin pastoral work at the Living Word Church, Mathare North
• 2000 – The church moves to own property – tin structure
• 2003 – Tumain School was started in Mathare North
• 2004 – The Living Kids School and LWC started in Githurai
• 2004 – ByGrace Children’s Home Started. First children welcomed into the Mbogo’s family
• 2005 – ByGrace Children’s Home, Ngong, officially opened with home-schooling
• 2006 – Liberty Hope Academy started after LWC was planted in Eldoret
• 2007 – ByGrace Children’s Home creates a Kenyan board to oversee the home’s operations
• 2009 – ByGrace’s on-campus schooling begins; reaching both resident and neighbourhood children
• 2011 – By Grace Trust 501(c)3 is formed in the U.S. to facilitate assistance to the ByGrace Children’s Home in Ngong, Kenya
• 2011 – ByGrace Children’s Home reaches 36 children.
• 2012 – The first school building completed.
• 2013 – On-campus chapel completed.
• 2013 – Water tower completed – elevated water tanks that allow us to provide water from our borehole to the community.
• 2013 – Ground-breaking for the new ByGrace High School in Ngong, Kenya.
• 2014 – The High School opened its first classrooms.
• 2016 – The first 15 students graduated from ByGrace High School.
• 2016 – The first two students join two-year college programs.
• 2017 – Shemot Elites Academy started in Kericho, years after LWC branch there.
• 2019 – The first five ByGrace students graduate from colleges with degrees
• 2023 – ByGrace Trust for 117 children & young adults; and all the schools’ population is over 2,000 children (Tumaini School, 400; ByGrace, 553; Liberty Hope, 150; Shemot Elite, 358, Living Kids, 350; Westwood, 197)
• 2023 – ByGrace Trust, Kenya, acquires status as a registered Trust to cover child sponsorships in all partner schools and allowing expansion to other areas related to the core business.