About Us

Ruben Centre is a faith-based charitable trust that is dedicated to empowering and promoting justice within the Mukuru community. We achieve this goal by providing high-quality education, health, financial, and social services to children and families residing in the Mukuru community. Our center is supported by the Christian Brothers African Province, and it is one of the eight project sites that the Christian Brothers oversee in Africa.

Ruben Centre is located in Mukuru, one of the largest slums in Nairobi, and we strive to provide educational, health, and community development programs to the residents of this community. Our efforts are geared towards helping individuals and families living in poverty to improve their quality of life. We believe that through education, healthcare, and community engagement, we can create a brighter future for the Mukuru community.

History of Ruben Centre

Ruben Centre was established in 1986 with the founding of a primary school by Sister Mary Killeen, an Irish Mercy Sister. In 1992 the school was handed over to the management of a Japanese NGO, African Education Fund (AEF). By 1995, the first class of KCPE students had completed their primary education. Unfortunately, the AEF withdrew after six years, leaving the school and the newly established clinic in a precarious state. Sister Mary Killeen continued as the administrator, determined to keep the center running.

In 1998, the first Teachers Service Commission teachers were employed, and the school was registered as a Kenyan government school. The school also started vocational classes in carpentry, dressmaking, and tailoring. In 2000, the Christian Brothers responded to Sister Mary’s invitation to administer the Ruben Centre. Br. Bob Aron became the first Christian Brother Manager and initiated some significant developments, including the installation of drainage, a playing field and toilets. The most notable development, however, was the construction of a police post by the Christian Brothers, which improved security and instilled new confidence in the local community about the Centre’s permanence.

In 2003, the primitive clinic was replaced by a modern facility that offered more services to the community. That same year, the Kenyan government initiated free primary education, leading to a significant expansion in the student population. The Ruben Centre has since expanded, and to date, nine operational programs exist.

Today, Ruben Centre is a multi-faceted institution that provides quality education, healthcare, livelihoods, and social services to the Mukuru community. The institution's success is a testament to the dedication of Sister Mary Killeen and the Christian Brothers, who have worked tirelessly to create a brighter future for the people living in the Mukuru community.

Vision

A present, compassionate and liberating partner.

Mission

To offer quality education, health, financial and socio – economic services to children and families in Mukuru community.

Core Values:

In working towards the attainment of its vision through its mission, Ruben Centre is guided by the following core values:

  1. Presence

  2. Compassion

  3. Liberation

How We Work

Ruben Centre works in collaboration with donors and partners to achieve her vision of ensuring a just and empowered Mukuru community. All programs are either donor funded or administered by a partner through Memorandum of Understanding.

The community plays a vital role in establishment of programs and in the very essence of existence of the Centre.  The Centre works hand in hand and in collaboration with the community to deliver tailor made solutions to the very needs of the people.  This is made possible through continuous needs assessments surveys and constant evaluation of existing programs to see to it that they are relevant and beneficial to the beneficiaries. There are Community Health Volunteers (CHVs) who are the eyes and ears of the Centre who act as link with the community. They provide first hand fundamental information pertaining to developments, needs and challenges facing the residents of Mukuru slum.  

The Centre has proper structures and policies to ensure that all donor funds are utilized appropriately and to ensure that the envisioned purposes are achieved. A seven member advisory board puts the operations of the Centre on check and works in cooperation with department heads to warrant smooth running of the different programs. The operations of the board are governed by the board’s constitution. The Centre also has well outlined operations manuals for all departments that spell out duties and responsibilities of all individuals working at the Centre. 

The Centre largely works with children and families and to safeguard the interests of the children. Ruben Centre has put in place policies such as child protection policy and code of professional conduct to protect minors against any professional misconduct concerning staff