As I have mentioned, not everything has been positive. There have been some malicious things said about myself, and some of my committee in Kenya have gone astray. However, now we have a new committee and a new organization to support us.
I stood down from the Kenya committee in July last year, as I wanted to spend more time in England. It was after this that things started to go adrift, with accusations, mis-management and an alleged conspiracy to take over the home.
Unfortunately, there were some bad accusations made about me in Kenya, from which the appropriate authorities in Kenya have completely cleared me. I have instructed an advocate in Kisumu to pursue any future cases through the courts, to ensure there is no repeat of the slander against me. It has been very encouraging that every relevant authority in Kenya has been persuading me to continue and expand the work in Kenya.
Two of the committee, Joash and Luke, are no longer with us at Kanyawegi.

I was very pleased that the Board of 'Uhuru Organization International' through Terry Newton has agreed to take over the management of Kanyawegi. Terry, who is now the Director of Kanyawegi, already runs a home for street children. His organization will continue to run Kanyawegi as a separate home, maintaining the present financial set up and staff. I will continue to act as Sponsor Coordinator here in the UK under Terry's direction. Terry, whose home is near Newcastle in England, lives almost full time in Kenya and will be a great asset to Kanyawegi - as he has the respect of the staff and is loved by the children.

The home's title deeds were purchased with my savings and registered in my name in 1998. This I think was the cause of others to try and take over the home. I am now in the process of transferring the deeds to Uhuru Organization International, which is an NGO (non government organization) in Kenya, and registered as a charity in the UK. This should now secure the future of the home and the children.

The new committee of Kanyawegi is in effect the Board of Uhuru Organisation in Kenya i.e.:
· G.P.O. Onyango (Chairperson)
· Mrs Mabel Owendo (Deputy Chairperson)

· Mr Davies Okombo (Secretary - co opted member)
· Mrs Eunice Chek (Treasurer)
· Mrs Jane Onyango
· Mrs Renu Vijay
· Mr Terry Newton (Director - Uhuru UK Representative)
GPO Onyango is a retired banker by profession, Mrs Owendo is a nurse by profession and is the deputy principal of the Kenya Medical Training College Kisumu branch, Mrs Chek is the administrator of Nightingale medical centre Kisumu, Mrs Vijay is a business woman, Mrs Onyango is a lawyer, and Davies Okombo is the Project Manager of Uhuru International. Mr. Terry Newton is a retired senior social services officer in the UK, an accredited Christian counselor, and now full time with Uhuru Organization. Terry is married to Thelma, lives in Hexham and has four grown-up daughters.

I feel that this new "heavyweight" Board is just the right thing for Kanyawegi. When we started with only four children in a rented house five years ago, the committee of four volunteers did a good job. Now we are 66 and growing, and in our own property, this new board of professional people will help Kanyawegi face the new challenges ahead - and who knows how many more children we will be able to care for.
Anyone who is interested to meet Terry Newton, please let me know, and I will inform you when he is next in your area during one of his UK visits.

I was very pleased that during the recent 'upheaval', that Peter, the Home Manager, and all the staff have stayed loyal. They have all worked hard to ensure that the children are cared for in a safe and secure way.
Although overall the children were little affected by the changes in the home, they are now much more happy and relaxed. One of the children had received unpleasant and suggestive letters that were thought to be aimed at disrupting the home. These have now been passed on to the relevant authorities, which we hope will put an end to the matter, and prevent further distress to the children.

This extract was from the April news update and the rest of the extract is very positive and makes good reading. Click here to see the full update.