Chickens, worms, and Lumos: The specialist support that brought two brothers home
10.04.2026
Pictured: Brother’s Tugi (second), Murmi (fourth), and their father, Jelani (fifth) with the staff from the Embu County Child Protection Network and the Charitable Children’s Institution social worker.
After the death of their mother, siblings Murmi* (15) and Tugi* (12) were placed in ACK Makutano Charitable Children’s Institution in Embu, Kenya in 2022 to help the family cope. The boys were part of a large sibling group of eleven children, seven boys and four girls, with Tugi being the youngest in the family.
Children belong in families, but sometimes loving parents place their children in institutions because there is no other way to meet their basic needs. This was also the case for Murmi and Tugi.
Jelani*, the father of the two brothers, welcomed the return of his two sons back home. However, to strengthen family stability and reduce the risk of re-separation, Lumos Kenya collaborated with the Embu County Child Protection Network to assess the support needs of the family.
To ensure Jelani could maintain household food security, income generation, and the children’s needs, reducing reliance on institutional care, he was provided with hands-on poultry farming training, a supply of chickens, a worm colony, worm farming bins and Azolla seeds
Pictured: Jelani with the chickens supplied to the family.
Lumos, in partnership with the Directorate of Children Services, also supported the transition process for the boys to leave the institution and return to the family home, providing them with specialist support for reintegration into their family.
A comprehensive family assessment process was undertaken to ensure reintegration decisions were safe, appropriate and in the best interests of the children. This helped assure that family readiness, child wellbeing, and community support systems were all carefully considered before the boys were returned to their family. We also discussed with Jelani his family situation to ensure he was able to receive and care for his children.
Thanks to this simple supply of chickens and worms, in February 2025, Tugi was successfully reintegrated with his father and siblings, joining his brother who had already been returned to the family in 2023.
Since 2022, Lumos Kenya has worked with the Kenyan Government and partners to prevent unnecessary family separation. Our evidence-based approach shows that family-based care delivers better outcomes for children, costs less, and provides stronger long-term results.
We want all children to grow up in safe and loving families and our partnership with the Kenyan Government is transforming care systems for more children like Murmi and Tugi.
You can help us support more families like Jelani, Tugi and Murmi so they can reunite and stay together with a donation today.
