Shining Hope for Communities (SHOFCO) has donated two fully equipped buses to the Nairobi Eastlands community in a move aimed at strengthening community income-generation initiatives and improving access to affordable transport services.
The Shofco Urban Network (SUN) branded buses were officially handed over during a colorful ceremony held in Embakasi West, where hundreds of residents, youth groups, and community leaders gathered to celebrate the milestone.
SHOFCO Founder and CEO Dr. Kennedy Odede said the initiative was inspired by SHOFCO’s continued mission to uplift urban informal settlements through sustainable, community-owned economic ventures.
“These buses are not just vehicles; they are tools of empowerment. We want communities to own assets that bring long-term income. Whether it is weddings, funerals, or daily transport needs, the proceeds from these buses will directly support families and grassroots groups in Eastlands,” Dr. Odede said.
According to SHOFCO lol, the buses will be managed through local leadership structures under the Shofco Urban Network (SUN), ensuring transparency, community ownership, and equitable distribution of revenue.
The income generated will support youth initiatives, welfare programs, and small local projects.Embakasi West Deputy County Commissioner Joyce Njagi, who presided over the handover, praised SHOFCO’s continued dedication to community empowerment.
“This gesture is a clear demonstration of what partnership between civil society and the community can achieve. “With proper management, these buses will uplift livelihoods, strengthen local businesses, and provide affordable transport for events and emergencies,” she said.
She encouraged the community to protect the asset and use it responsibly, noting that such investments are rare but transformative.For members of the Shofco Urban Network, the donation marks a turning point.
SUN representative John Musyoki stated that the community had long needed a reliable source of income and accessible transport services.
“For many years, people here have struggled to hire transport for weddings, funerals, and other gatherings, everything was either too expensive or too far away.
“Now, we have something we can proudly call our own. The money generated will stay within the community and support our welfare,” Musyoki said.
SHOFCO confirmed that the buses will be operational immediately, with a booking committee already in place to coordinate rentals for events, group travel, and local transport needs.
Community members expressed optimism that the venture would reduce exploitation by commercial transport operators and create new employment opportunities for local youth as drivers, conductors, and administrators.
The donation added the number of buses donated by SHOFCO to the community in Nairobi to six. The initiative is part of Odede’s mission to uplift communities across 37 counties in Kenya.
So far, 15 buses have been given to communities in Mombasa, Kisumu, Siaya, and Kakamega. SUN has over six million members across Kenya.
