An Overview of the Children of God Relief Institute {COGRI}
By Fr. Dominic Mutunga, SJ
The Children of God Relief Institute {COGRI} is a dynamic umbrella organization currently fostering three programs namely Nyumbani Village in Kitui Diocese and Nyumbani Children’s Home and Nyumbani Diagnostic Laboratory in Karen, Nairobi. It is a company limited by guarantee registered in Kenya in 1996. With the exit of the two co-founders, Fr. D’Agostino (RIP) and Sr. Mary Owens, the Society of Jesus-AOR province is the official subscriber (owner) in conjunction with the Archdiocese of Nairobi.  The organization focuses on mitigating the impact of HIV among the vulnerable groups through provision of holistic care. Nyumbani Children’s Home was founded in 1992 by Father Angelo D’Agostino to help orphaned and abandoned HIV-positive children. It ensures that these children are raised in a safe and loving environment, with the respect and dignity they deserve.
Father D’Agostino, SJ., a former US Air Force doctor who joined the Jesuits and focused on psychiatry, learned of the need for specialized facilities for these children through his work with Jesuit charities. This led to the establishment of COGRI’s flagship project, Nyumbani Children’s Home. COGRI has since expanded to run the two more projects stated above. A fourth project, Lea Toto Outreach Programme, was run from 1998 and closed in 2024.
COGRI is officially registered by the Government of Kenya as a company limited by guarantee. It is recognized as a Charitable Children’s Institution (CCI) under the National Council of Children’s Services. The establishment of Nyumbani home arose from Fr. D’Agostino’s observation of the plight faced by HIV-positive children, who were often rejected by many institutions. Initially located in Westlands, subsequent sites were established in Karen-Langata and the current site along Dagoretti Road in Karen.
From its inception in 1992, the institution has steadily grown the number of infected and affected children and families served. Starting with one home in 1992, COGRI has served 4,000 HIV survivors and over 1,000 affected orphans and vulnerable children every year. Through its Lea Toto HIV/AIDS community outreach programme (closed in 2024) COGRI operated eight centers (Kangemi, Kawangware, Kibera, Mukuru, Zimmerman, Kariobangi, Dandora and Dagoretti) and served over 3,500 HIV-positive children and up to 14,000 family members every year.