Meet Daisy Ann Wanja Njoroge, our newest student at Kijabe Practical Garage! With a strong passion for the automotive industry, Daisy is eager to gain hands-on experience in vehicle maintenance and repair. A quick learner with a talent for collaboration and critical thinking, she brings a quiet determination to her work. We’re excited to watch her progress and will keep you updated!
MEET THE TEAM TUESDAY - LYDIA
Lydia Wangari Githinji was born on August 2, 1972, in Kijabe, Kiambu County, as the first of six children to Reuben Karobia and Ruth Njeri. In 1976, her family moved to Mai Mahiu, where her father owned land. She attended Kijabe Primary School, walking from Mai Mahiu daily due to its superior academic performance and her mother’s role as a preschool teacher nearby. She completed her primary education in 1986 and proceeded to Uthiru High School, graduating in 1990.
In 1991, Lydia began working as a casual laborer at Kijabe Printing Press. The following year, she was employed at Kijabe Medical Center, where she met her future husband, John Githinji, a colleague. While working, she pursued professional computing and data processing at Universal Group of Colleges, completing her studies in 1994. Lydia and John married that same year and were blessed with two children, Peris Munga and Samuel Murugi. She is also a grandmother to Ayana Wambui.
From 1995 to 1999, Lydia worked as a secretary at Kijabe School of Nursing, an affiliate of Kijabe Hospital. She later joined Aberdare Creameries in Kikuyu until the company closed in 2001. Following this, she opened a computer bureau offering photocopying and printing services, which she ran until 2009. After her husband was tragically killed in a robbery, she took up a position as an administrative secretary at AIC Kijabe to support her family.
In 2015, Lydia joined the Executive National Board of Little Lambs, later being elected chairperson, a role she still holds. During her time at Kijabe School of Nursing, she also earned a diploma in Personnel and Human Resource Management and Private Secretarial Duties.
MEET THE TEAM TUESDAY - JECINTA KIAGO
Jecinta Waithira Kiago was born on November 7, 1979, to the late Peter Kiago and Jane Kabura, the fourth of seven children in Kamwaura, Nakuru County.
In 1987, Jecinta enrolled at Arimi Primary School in Nakuru, completing her Kenya Certificate of Primary Education exams in 1995. She spent an additional year in primary school, repeating grade eight. In 1996, she joined Machinda Secondary School and sat for her Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education exam in 1999. Due to financial constraints, she could not immediately pursue tertiary education and instead took on casual jobs on farms.
During this period of casual work, Jecinta met Aaron Kamau. They married in 2003 and were blessed with a son, Simon Kinuthia, now 20 years old. However, after five years of marriage, Jecinta separated from her husband upon discovering he had other wives.
Determined to improve her life, Jecinta sought vocational training and enrolled at Nakuru East College, where she earned a certificate in Early Childhood Development Education, graduating in 2010. She began her teaching career the same year at Vio Kim Kindergarten School, where she worked for two years before accepting a better offer at Race Track Junior Academy. After two years at Race Track, Jecinta learned of an opening for a certified teacher at Little Lambs Nakuru. She applied, was shortlisted for an interview, and was ultimately selected as the best candidate for the position. She continues to serve as a teacher at Little Lambs Nakuru to this day.
MEET THE TEAM TUESDAY - GIDEON MUSAU MUENI
Gideon Musau Mueni was born on November 11, 1993, to Emily Mueni as the firstborn in a family of two children in Maingi, Kiambu County.
He began his education at Kiambogo Primary School in 2000 but transferred to King’atua Primary School in 2002, where he had to restart from grade one. He completed his Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) in 2010 and then proceeded to Kiambogo Secondary School, where he obtained his Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) in 2014.
In 2015, Gideon enrolled in a driving school and earned his driving license within a few months, aiming to find a driving job. Due to a scarcity of opportunities, he decided to pursue a career in auto mechanics. In 2016, he attended Kamirithu Polytechnic and earned a Grade 3 certificate in Auto Mechanics within a year. After graduation, he worked as a casual assistant truck driver in Naivasha for two years, but the irregularity of the job led him to return to Maingi.
Upon returning home, Gideon worked as a fruit vendor in the Kijabe and Maingi areas. In 2020, he secured a temporary position as a night security guard at Kijabe Station Management, where he worked for eight months. He returned to fruit vending but later approached Little Lambs, expressing his interest in a night guard position. Although there were no openings at the time, he left his contact details for future consideration.
During his time as a fruit vendor, Gideon met Priscilla Wambui. They dated until early 2022, when they married. The couple has been blessed with a daughter, Emily Mueni, who is now one year old.
In mid-2022, a night guard position became available at GP, and Gideon was contacted. He agreed to work on a trial basis and performed well. Within three months, he was officially added to the GP staff as a night security guard, a position he currently holds.
MEET THE TEAM TUESDAY - ESTHER KAGO
Esther Njeri Kago was born on November 27, 1989, to John Kago and Mary Ann Njambi in Maingi, Kiambu County. She is the third of five children.
Esther began her education at Kijabe Primary School in 1996. Despite repeating Grade 4, she continued her studies there, mainly because her mother was a teacher at the school, until she completed her Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) in 2004. However, she was unable to join secondary school after becoming pregnant in early 2005. At the time, customary practices meant no legal action was taken against Isaac Mwangi, who was responsible for the pregnancy. Instead, he took Esther as his wife. They were blessed with a daughter, Bernice Wangui, who is now 18 years old. Esther lived with her in-laws while her husband worked in Nairobi as a security guard. They later had a second daughter, Mary Ann Njambi, who is now 15 years old.
In 2011, Esther separated from her husband due to his excessive drinking and domestic violence. She took her two daughters and moved in with her elder sister in Nairobi. After five months of relying on her sister, her mother provided her with the capital to start a small café in Kitengela, Kajiado County. Esther ran the café until 2016, when she was reconciled with her husband through the mediation of village elders. She returned to live with him, but by that time, he had quit his job, relying on his sisters for support while caring for their elderly mother. However, the financial assistance was insufficient, and Esther began searching for work.
In 2016, she found temporary employment at Little Lambs GP, where she was hired as a cook to prepare meals for the construction workers building the new GP facility. After the construction was completed, she returned home.
In 2018, when GP moved to its new location, there was a need for a housekeeper and additional support staff. Recognizing her capabilities, Esther was hired as a housekeeper, a position she continues to hold today.
