Phyllis Keino
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Phyllis Keino is a Kenyan philanthropist known for her work with the Lewa Children's Home and the Baraka Farm, which serve orphaned and impoverished children in Eldoret, Kenya.[1]
She was the wife of the Olympian runner Kip Keino with whom she founded the orphanage and farm. In addition to the work with the Lewa Children's House and the Baraka Farm, she serves as the volunteer spokesperson for the non-governmental organization Bread and Water for Africa.[2]
Keino became a registered nurse in 1976 after several years of training, during which time she became committed to improving the lives of orphans and abandoned children living in poverty.[3] In partnership with her husband Kip Keino, she undertook numerous humanitarian efforts including founding the Lewa Children's Home, Kazi Mingi Farm, Baraka Farm, and the Kipkeino schools in Eldoret.[4]
In 1987, she organized with a Benedictine priest to secure funding to acquire 500 acres of land from the Craig family, members of the Lewa Conservatory, on which she could construct a home for orphans and children living in poverty.[5][6]
In 2003, Phyllis and Kip had significant disagreements which led to their separation and a split between her humanitarian efforts and his foundations.[7] She has given birth to eight children with Kip Keino and has adopted many others.[8][9]