Precious Kids Center (PKC) in Kitale, Kenya isn’t just a children’s home—it’s a place of healing, restoration, and radical love.
It all began when Sammy Hammock visited Kenya during a summer break at age 16. What she saw broke her heart: over 100 children, many in diapers, left behind simply because they had disabilities. In the local culture, children with disabilities are often seen as a curse or a source of shame. There were no schools for them. No services. No future.
But Sammy returned—again and again—each summer during college. And in March 2012, she officially founded Precious Kids Center to provide a safe, loving environment for children with disabilities. Eventually, she moved to Kenya full-time and expanded the home. Today, over a decade later, PKC is home to nearly 180 children—more than 60% of whom live with disabilities. The center offers not only housing and food but also education, medical care, therapy, and the love of a family.
My first visit to PKC was in December 2024. Josey and I traveled from Tanzania to capture media content—but our hearts were quickly drawn deeper. We came to tell their story for social media and the website, but ended up walking into something much bigger: a story of God’s redemption and community transformation.
We arrived at Karibuni Lodge around 7 p.m., just 20 minutes from the PKC campus, and were warmly welcomed by Sumner, one of the volunteers. Sumner is originally from Atlanta, Georgia, and her story touched me so deeply I knew I had to remember it—and share it. After high school, she spent over a year working with gypsy children in Romania. When she returned home, she waited three years, praying for God to reveal her next step. One day, someone at her church mentioned Serving Orphans Worldwide. Then, through dreams and confirmations, she felt called to Kenya.
In 2023, without all the answers but with a lot of faith, she packed her bags. Two weeks after receiving a call, she was in Kitale.
When Sumner arrived at PKC in 2023, she stepped into something really special. The foundation had already been laid by Sammy Hammock, who started this home back in 2012. She first came to Kenya when she was just 16 and saw how children with disabilities were treated—like they were cursed or unwanted. She couldn’t forget what she saw, and she kept coming back every summer during college. Eventually, she moved here and gave her life to building a place where kids with disabilities could be loved, cared for, and treated like they matter. That’s how Precious Kids Center started.
Over the years, Sammy has worked so hard to keep the doors open and give these kids a family. You can tell there’s so much love at PKC. But even with all that heart, there just hasn’t always been enough funding to keep everything in good shape. When Sumner arrived, the buildings had leaks, there weren’t enough beds, and a lot of the kids didn’t even have wheelchairs. Some were lying on the floor because there just wasn’t any other option.
But even in all of that, you could feel that this place was full of hope.
Sumner held on to Isaiah 54—a chapter that talks about restoration and God’s promises. She shared the vision with her church back in Atlanta, and they raised over $60,000, which was more than double the original goal. That money helped fix the buildings, buy beds and wheelchairs, and make the space safer and more comfortable for everyone.
But it wasn’t just about buildings. The spiritual atmosphere began to shift. Now, the children and staff gather for worship and Bible studies. There’s a hunger for God—and a deep sense of family.
During that first visit, we also met Caren, a social worker who has been with PKC for more than 11 years. She started as a teacher, went to college, and returned with a passion to serve. As she gave us a tour, she shared stories of the children—each one unforgettable.
There’s Precious, a bright little girl with the most joyful laugh. Her mother, Faith, has cerebral palsy and was raped by her father. Faith became pregnant with twins. One child passed away at birth, but Precious survived. Her life is nothing short of a miracle. Then there’s Paul, who was abandoned in a dumpster with only his medical papers underneath him. He had a severe condition with his intestines and no one believed he would survive—but he did. God has truly turned tragedy into hope here.
One of the ongoing challenges PKC faces is finding ways to support both children with and without disabilities. It’s easy for the more urgent needs to draw all the attention, but Sumner and the team are praying through how to help every child thrive and feel seen.
When we returned to PKC in March 2025—this time with Mark and James—we saw even more transformation. The home now cares for 120 children (at the main site), with rooms of 24 kids and two nannies each. There’s structure, joy, and a powerful sense of hope.
We toured the facility again, met with the incredible staff, and ended our visit in prayer. The Holy Spirit’s presence was strong, and there was a shared sense that God is far from finished here.
This place continues to inspire courage in me.
PKC is a reminder that God still writes stories of redemption—and that love, faith, and community can transform even the most broken circumstances.
About the Author
Katie is part of our Northbound field staff in Tanzania. With a background in humanitarian work, including drilling water wells across East Africa, she brings passion, heart, and lived experience to every place she visits. She’s traveled to the U.S., Uganda, Kenya, and Malawi—and everywhere she goes, she builds deep connections with the people and places she serves. This is her second visit to Precious Kids Center in Kenya.
