Reverend Mary Mambo
Founder & CEO
" A Beacon of Light in the Mukuru Slums"
Rev. Mary Mambo was born on April 4, 1950, in the serene village of Kagaa, nestled in the heart of Central Kenya. Growing up in a family of eleven children, she embraced her role as the firstborn with grace and responsibility. Her childhood was marked by simplicity and humility.
Reverend Mary attended the local primary school and high school, acquiring knowledge, and dreams within the rustic walls of her village. Her thirst for learning led her to pursue a nursing and midwifery course at a college, where she honed her skills and passion for healing.
After completing her education, Reverend Mary embarked on a mission to make a difference. She established a small clinic in the village shopping centre, where she tirelessly served her community. Her compassionate care touched lives, and her clinic became a beacon of hope for those in need.
In the late 1960s, Reverend Mary’s path intersected with that of the late Reverend Joseph Mambo Gacheru, the love of her life. Their union in 1970 was a testament to their unwavering commitment. However, like any young couple, they faced financial challenges. Yet, their faith and determination carried them through, and blessings followed.
Reverend Joseph secured employment as an accountant at the Central Police Station, while Reverend Mary emerged as one of the first three certified nurses authorized by the Kenyan government for private practice. She expanded her clinics—one in Donholm and another in Umoja. Their life blossomed in the leafy suburb of Buru Buru, Nairobi. Their children attended better schools, and they found solace in their faith at Deliverance Church Umoja, where they served as church leaders.
In the 1990s, Reverend Mary’s life took an unexpected turn. While tending to patients at her clinic in Donholm, she encountered a group of street children—wounded, hungry, and desperate. Her heart stirred with compassion. She cleaned their septic wounds, fed them, and listened to their stories.
Reverend Mary’s heart swelled with purpose. Her mission extended beyond medical care; she provided nourishment, hope, and love. The number of street children seeking refuge grew daily, but so did Reverend Mary’s determination.
Curiosity led her to inquire about their origins. The children revealed they hailed from the nearby informal settlement called Mukuru Sinai, where poverty and illness held sway. Many of their parents were bedridden due to the harsh effects of HIV/AIDS, compounded by the lack of ARVs and the stigma surrounding the disease.
The sight of suffering in the slums brought tears to Reverend Mary’s eyes. She prayed fervently, seeking answers from God. And then, in a moment of clarity, God revealed His plan: Reverend Mary was to go to the slums and be a beacon of hope.
Undeterred by scepticism, Reverend Mary returned to her family. She shared her vision—a vision of healing, transformation, and service. But they thought her crazy. The church echoed their doubts as well as they did not think whether she could fit in in the slums at her position. Yet, Reverend Mary’s determination burned brighter than any doubt.
To fund her mission, Reverend Mary made sacrifices. She sold her beloved clinics, and her family sold their home in the leafy suburb of Buru Buru. Reverend Joseph, her steadfast partner, resigned from his job at ADC (Agricultural Development Corporation). Together, they stepped into the heart of the slums, guided by faith and purpose.
Reverend Mary’s heart expanded. She returned to school in the mid-90s, enrolling at Daystar University to study counselling psychology. Armed with newfound knowledge, she equipped herself to heal not just bodies but wounded souls.
In the late '90s, Reverends Mary and Joseph established the Cana Family HIV/AIDS Education and Resource Centre. Their humble iron-sheet clinic became a sanctuary for those battling the relentless grip of HIV. They treated patients, psychoeducated them, and offered solace in a place where hope was scarce. The need grew, and so did their mission.
The children who visited the clinic needed more than medical care. They needed nourishment, love, and a chance at a better life. Reverends Mary and Joseph initiated a feeding program—porridge at 10 and a meal at 1. But Reverend Mary saw beyond immediate sustenance. They needed to be educated. In 2001, the Cana Kings Education Centre was born. It was not just a school; it was a sanctuary for orphans. Many had lost parents to HIV/AIDS, left in the care of guardians who often mistreated them. The girls, especially, suffered—some even faced sexual abuse.
Reverend Mary’s heart ached. She cried out to God, seeking guidance. And in the quiet moments, she heard His whisper: “RESCUE THEM.” And so, Reverend Mary did. She poured her love into the children of Mukuru, especially the girls. She taught them not just to survive but to thrive. The Cana Children’s Rescue Centre was birthed in 2003 and it became a haven—a place where dreams took root, where hope blossomed against all odds.
In the early 2000s, Reverends Mary and Joseph’s journey took them to the East African School of Theology (EAST). Their hearts aflame with purpose, they returned to the Mukuru Slums, not merely as healers but as spiritual guides. They founded Deliverance Church Sinai, a spiritual centre nestled amidst the chaos of the slums. Here, they ministered to the souls of those they treated at the clinic—the weary mothers seeking maternal care, the children yearning for solace. Their words echoed hope, their prayers a balm for wounded hearts.
Over the years, The Cana Family HIV/AIDS Education and Resource Centre kept growing beyond imagination. and blossoming to become a fully-fledged faith-based NGO. What once stood as humble iron-sheet structures now reaches for the sky with permanent concrete buildings, the Cana Centre stands tall, offering healing, education, and love. It is like a haven in the middle of a sea of dilapidated iron sheet shacks.
At the Cana Rescue Centre, girls found more than shelter; they found wings to soar. Educated through primary schools and some of the nation’s finest boarding high schools, they defied odds. Tertiary institutions like Daystar University and Kenya Medical Training Colleges (KMTC) welcomed them, equipping them for futures brighter than they dared dream.
The clinic evolved. From a few rooms and a modest maternity ward, it blossomed into a Level 3B hospital. Its walls witnessed miracles—the birth of life, the triumph over illness. With a theatre and a bed capacity of about 40, it became a sanctuary for those in need.
The church, too, flourished. From a handful of believers, it now boasts two hundred members—a testament to Reverends Mary and Joseph’s unwavering faith. Their spiritual nourishment complemented the physical care offered at the clinic. Together, they tended to both body and soul.
Within the Cana Centre’s embrace, the Cana Kings School thrives. About 250 pupils fill its classrooms, eager minds absorbing knowledge. With teachers and support staff who are dedicated to shape futures, moulding leaders, dreamers, and change-makers.
Reverends Mary and Joseph’s legacy transcends time. Their love, sacrifice, and unyielding service continue to ripple through generations. The Cana Family Centre remains a testament to the power of compassion—a lighthouse in the darkness, guiding lost souls toward hope.