WHO WE ARE

Root Cause Kwanza (RCK) is a community based organization dedicated to addressing the foundational issues (“roots”) that hinder children’s education, health and overall well - being.

“Kwanza” meaning “first” in Swahili reflects our commitment to tackling these critical challenges first to create sustainable, long-term change. We believe that education is the key to transformation and by integrating health and innovative learning strategies, we empower children to reach their full potential.

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VISION

A just and thriving Kenya where every child, regardless of where they are born, has the opportunity to learn, grow, and lead change in their community.

MISSION

Addressing the root causes of poverty by equipping children with education, health support, and resilience-building opportunities

A teacher smiling and helping a student in a classroom with a notebook.

History of Root Cause Kwanza (RCK)

Root Cause Kwanza (RCK) was born out of lived experience and a vision for lasting, equitable change in underserved slums and rural communities across Kenya. The seeds of the organization were sown in 2019 when Jacob Murunga, a passionate education advocate raised in the heart of Kibera- Africa’s largest urban slum, began supporting vulnerable children using his own and friends’ limited resources. Having grown up surrounded by the harsh realities of poverty, Jacob understood firsthand how lack of access to quality education, health, and opportunity stifled potential. These early efforts grew into a grassroots movement, driven by a belief that poverty must be addressed at its root: through holistic child development that empowers families both in urban slums and rural villages.

RCK was officially registered in 2024 and began formal operations in 2025. The organization was built with a clear dual-approach: to bridge the development gap between densely populated urban informal settlements like Kibera and remote rural communities where children face equally dire challenges but are often overlooked. Both contexts face systemic barriers to education, health, and opportunity, but the root causes and local dynamics vary significantly.

From the outset, RCK has focused on transformative programs that target early childhood development, education, nutrition, and health infrastructure. Our approach is informed by data and grounded in community partnerships, ensuring sustainability and scale. We believe that investing in children’s full potential is the most effective way to disrupt generational poverty and build stronger communities.

Today, RCK operates in both slum areas such as Kibera and rural communities to support extremely needy children through education sponsorship, health initiatives and provide essential school infrastructure like science labs, libraries and toilets to support education outcomes. Our journey is still unfolding, but our foundation, built on lived experience, community trust, and measurable impact, is solid.