James Karanja walked over 200km from Nakuru to Narok to raise scholarship funds for Kenyan children with Homecare International.

A Kenyan philanthropist has walked more than 200 kilometres to raise funds for children’s education. James Karanja, founder of Homecare International, led the six-day trek from Nakuru to Ng’oswani in Narok West.

The journey ran from July 14 to July 18, 2026, passing through Gilgil and Mau Narok before ending in the Maasai Mara region.

The trek marked a major milestone for Homecare International. The organisation turns 20 years old in 2026, and Karanja chose to mark the anniversary with a walk before a ceremony.

He wanted the celebration to mean something for the children the organisation serves.

Every Step For A Better Tomorrow

The trek carried the theme “Every Step for a Better Tomorrow.” It captured the spirit of the journey well. Each kilometre covered stood for a child still waiting for the chance to attend school.

Karanja said the walk was about more than distance. It was about visibility. Millions of Kenyan children remain locked out of classrooms because their families cannot afford fees, uniforms, or books. He wanted their situation seen, not just discussed.

Along the route, the team met communities, shared their mission, and listened to local stories. Many residents came out to host and encourage the walkers.

Karanja later described these encounters as proof that Kenyans still believe in collective progress, even when resources are stretched thin.

Why Karanja Started The Walk

Homecare International exists to get children into school. Karanja explained that the organisation’s core objective covers more than tuition. It includes shelter, healthcare, and long-term security for vulnerable families.

The goal, in his words, is to break the cycle of poverty at its root.

Government efforts and parental sacrifice have expanded access to education across Kenya. Yet gaps remain. Many children still drop out early because poverty at home outweighs the pull of the classroom. Karanja said this reality pushed him to act rather than wait.

He set a clear target for the year. Homecare International aims to place over 100 children from disadvantaged backgrounds into fully sponsored school placements by the end of 2026.

The organisation already sponsors more than 8,700 children across Kenya. It also funds education infrastructure in underserved areas.

Global Support, Local Impact

Homecare International draws support from Germany, the United States, Kenya, and individual well-wishers around the world. That international backing has allowed the organisation to sustain its work for two decades.

Karanja credits this network of donors for keeping the mission alive through difficult years.

The trek itself doubled as a fundraising campaign. Every step taken was tied to donations and pledges from supporters following the journey online.

The hashtag #TrekkingForEducation was used among Kenyan social media users throughout the six days, drawing attention from both local and diaspora communities.

A Beneficiary Walks Alongside The Founder

Owen Thiong’o, a member of the organisation, joined the trek and shared his own story along the way. He once received support from Homecare International as a struggling student.

Today, he is a third-year student at Laikipia University. His presence on the walk turned an abstract mission into a lived example.

Thiong’o’s journey illustrates what sustained education support can achieve. A single scholarship, extended at the right moment, can change a life’s trajectory entirely. His story added weight to every kilometre the team covered.

Reaching The Ogiek Community

Homecare International’s education work extends beyond this single trek. The organisation has also supported the Ogiek community in Marioshoni and Kiptunga. For decades, children there walked over 15 kilometres just to reach a classroom.

New classrooms built through the organisation’s efforts have shortened that distance dramatically.

Karanja’s team has been featured on national television for this work, highlighting how targeted infrastructure investment can transform an entire community’s relationship with education.

What The Trek Means For Kenya

Karanja’s walk from Nakuru to Narok shows what grassroots philanthropy can achieve when paired with clear goals. It also highlights a persistent national challenge: thousands of Kenyan children remain outside the classroom due to poverty, not ability.

Homecare International’s 20-year track record suggests sustained, community-rooted giving can move the needle. Karanja’s trek was not just a symbolic gesture.

It was a call for continued support toward a goal that benefits the entire country: a generation of children with real access to education.

As Homecare International looks toward its next 100 scholarships, Karanja’s message remains simple. Every step counts, and every child deserves the chance to learn, dream, and thrive.