Elijah Okuto is an atypical husband and father by African standards, and certainly by Mathare standards. He openly admits that he loves his wife, Sophie, and talks about their good relationship and their humor with each other. Elijah Okuto loves his children and is actively involved in their rearing and education; again, not typical compared to his peers. His eyes light up when he talks about his beloved family, and he is very protective of them and their future.Elijah grew up in Kisumu, Kenya, a Lake Victoria port town 212 miles northwest of Nairobi. He completed high school and attended Kisumu Technical School into his sophomore year, but dropped out due to lack of tuition. Although not equipped with a degree, Elijah decided to use the skills learned in electronics classes to find work. He and Sophie moved their family to Nairobi where positions in electronic repair were more plentiful than in Kisumu. Ultimately, he opened a TV repair shop in Mathare, and his skills are still in demand after 15 years. Elijah hopes to expand his business to include mobile phone repair.Another atypical attribute about Elijah is his willingness to share workspace with Sophie – an unusual arrangement anywhere, but especially in Mathare. Sophie, who dropped out of high school in Form 2 (sophomore year), graduated from the eduKenya Skill Training School in 2014, and now operates a small salon in Elijah’s shop. She may have as many as three customers per day, which is significant considering the complexity of the braided hairstyles in demand, and she is grateful for a skill that contributes toward the welfare of their family.Elijah and Sophie have three daughters – two older who attend public school, and one in the Mawewa Preschool. Both parents are faithful about attending parent-teacher conferences and making sure the children keep us with their school responsibilities. In the afternoon after school lets out, the children report to their parent’s shop and whichever parent is free, closes up their part of the store and takes the children home to do their schoolwork.Elijah loves God and takes his family to the Seventh Day Adventist church every Saturday. Without apology, he and Sophie close their shops on the Sabbath, a day that could bring in much business. He leads his children to walk in God’s ways, hoping they will grow into responsible, respectful, and disciplined people. Elijah’s most fervent wish is that his children will desire to know and love God.eduKenya applauds Elijah’s commitment to God and family. Atypical men like him are an example within their homes and communities, bringing hope and transformation into a dark and hurting world.

Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. Colossians 3:14