How Moesha Kay Is Sheltering Nairobi’s Vulnerable Children

Moesha’s Journey of Love, Resilience, and Hope

In a world where kindness is often measured in grand gestures and fleeting acts, Moesha Kibibi Tajiri, popularly known as Moesha Kay, is a testament to the power of unwavering, everyday compassion.

A celebrated dancer in the award-winning FBI Dance Crew, she is the only female Kenyan dancer to have represented the country on global stages, winning accolades that many only dream of.

But beyond the glitz of her dance career lies a story far more compelling – one of selfless devotion to the forgotten, the vulnerable, and the overlooked.

Moesha is not just a dancer; she is a mother in every sense of the word. Her children are not bound to her by blood but by love, necessity, and fate.

Scattered across Kenya, they number in the hundreds – orphans, children rescued from dire situations, those under medical care, those who need support, and those from impoverished homes.

Among them, the youngest is just two years old, while the oldest she mothers is a staggering 98. To them, she is “Mum,” not out of obligation, but because she has chosen to be.

Born and raised in Nairobi’s Majengo, Moesha’s childhood was far from easy. At just 13, she lost both her parents and found herself living on the streets, forced to navigate a world that often preys on the vulnerable.

“I had no one to turn to, no one to share my pain with,” she recalls.

The streets were not just cold; they were ruthless. She witnessed girls her age succumb to despair, turning to drugs, prostitution, or, in the worst cases, ending their own lives. The absence of a safe space, of a single guiding hand, left many without hope.

Determined not to become another statistic, Moesha found solace and purpose in dance.

As the sole female member of the FBI Dance Crew, she used her earnings not only to fund her education but also to support others in need.

“People think I just woke up one morning and decided to help,” she says. “But it runs deeper than that – it’s a calling, not a performance for social media,” she adds.

Her journey of giving began before she even turned 18. Using her growing popularity, she travelled to different counties, teaching dance to children who couldn’t afford to come to her.

This initiative, Coming to Your Hood, was more than about dance; it was about mentorship, listening to stories eerily similar to her own, and creating the safe space she never had.

However, the path of a giver is never smooth. Seeking government support led to repeated frustrations, including closed doors, empty promises, and even harassment from security guards at offices she desperately tried to access.

“Someone with a weak heart would have given up, but sacrifice and commitment make anything possible,” she reflects.

When institutions failed her, she turned to what she knew best – her talent. With the money she made from dance, she began renting homes in the ghettos to shelter the children under her care.

Today, in Nairobi alone, she houses 326 children across six different locations, 40 living with her in Madaraka.

But providing isn’t just about finding them a roof – it’s about creating a family. “These children aren’t just statistics or names in an organisation. They are my children,” she says.

Moesha formally registered her initiative as a Community-Based Organisation (CBO) in 2018, a process she learned entirely through the internet.

While she receives no fixed funding, she credits divine providence and the generosity of kind strangers. Donations come in unexpected ways – sometimes through in-kind contributions, sometimes through well-wishers who believe in her mission. And always, the FBI Dance Crew stands by her, giving 10 per cent of their earnings at least once in a while to support the cause.

Of course, challenges persist. Some donors bring spoiled food, while others seek to use charity for publicity.

Volunteers she once trusted mistreated the children and even stole from them. Landlords, wary of housing street children, often refuse to lease to her. But through it all, Moesha remains steadfast.

“Before I rent a house, I ensure the landlord understands my situation. This isn’t just a transaction; it’s about people’s lives,” she asserts.

Her resilience has borne fruit. The children she raised are excelling in school, and some are now in university. “Seeing my children thrive is the best reward they could ever give me,” she says, beaming with pride.

Some of the young mothers she supports now run small businesses and, in turn, give back by donating groceries, watching over the children, and nurturing the family Moesha has built.

This year marks a milestone as her first cohort of university students will graduate, a testament to her belief that a different life is possible, even for those often forgotten by society.

If she could tell her younger self one thing, it would be this: “You are strong and capable.”

Moesha’s vision is simple yet profound: To raise children who will one day change lives, just as she has.

“If the world had even ten more people dedicated to impacting lives, it would be a much better place,” she says.

Her message to the world? “Kindness costs nothing, yet it means everything. Be humble. Different. Be the reason someone believes in goodness again.”

This article was originally published in Issue 444 and has been repurposed. Click HERE to read the full issue.

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