From Surviving to Serving: Our Founder's Story

“Root Cause Kwanza exists because we believe things can get better. Every child deserves access to quality education, good health, and the chance to believe in a brighter future. Every child deserves a better shot at the future.”

“I grew up in the heart of Kibera- the largest urban slum in Africa, where survival was, and still is, a daily struggle. Safety, food, even dignity were luxuries I couldn’t afford. After school, I often asked classmates if I could join them at home for a meal or a place to rest. Some welcomed me. Many didn’t. Kindness had limits when everyone was barely getting by.

Hunger was constant. Illness was routine, a result of overcrowding and poor sanitation. And at times, drugs felt like the only escape. Many of my friends gave in but somehow, I kept going. Whether it was hope or sheer stubbornness, I believed life could be different.

That belief became real when I met a sponsor through a local organization. An individual who gave me a lifeline and the most enviable chance to stay in school and complete my education. What started in despair turned into a journey of transformation, made possible by opportunity and the belief of strangers who became family. They saw potential in me before I saw it in myself.

Today, as the founder of Root Cause Kwanza, I carry that story with me. But every day, I still see children living the life I once did. Facing the same hunger, the same pain, and asking the same question: Is there any better?

My answer is a resounding: YES.

Root Cause Kwanza exists because we believe things can get better. Every child deserves access to quality education, good health, and the chance to believe in a brighter future. Every child deserves a better shot at the future.”

Jacob H. Murunga
Founder, Root Cause Kwanza