SOS Children’s Village Nairobi was the first SOS Children’s Village in Kenya. It was constructed in 1973 on 17 acres in Buru Buru, Estate in the Eastland area of Nairobi, 11 km from the central business district of Nairobi. On 16 October 1975, the village was opened in the presence of both the Kenyan Vice-President, and the founder and president of SOS Children’s Villages International, Hermann Gmeiner. Having started with 11 family houses it now has 16. The first Village Director was Mr. Anthony Herrnegger. In subsequent years eight more have served the village. The current village director is Mr. James Wabara.

Every family house has 10 children, the majority from Kenya and a very few from other parts of Africa who were moved to Nairobi for medical reasons. (The many good quality hospitals in Nairobi make it a very good centre for medical care.)

The children attend the SOS Kindergarten (located in the village) and the SOS Herman Gmeiner Primary School, two km away, as well as community schools. The secondary children attend the SOS Hermann Gmeiner Secondary School in Eldoret, as well as other government and private schools.

Attached to the village are the youth facilities where the youth move to as they reach adolescence. The girls’ house is located within the village while the boys’ house is across the road. The facility also houses foreign youth from Ethiopia and Somalia. This facility was officially opened in 1989 but has been occupied since 1985. A second youth house based in the community, houses older youths who are preparing to leave the organisation once they have completed their education and training, be it vocational, or academic.  

Since inception, about 208 youths are now leading independent lives in various parts of the country or overseas. Youth Leaders continue to follow up on the progress of the youth living in the community, assisting them with job searches. The leaders guide and prepare them towards becoming independent adults.