Major Eric Kinuthia Mbugua. A jet pilot trainer with a great passion for destitute children. Apart from flying and training others, Eric finds plenty of time and compassion for the destitute children of Nanyuki Childrens home.

This is a rare combination of; some sorts. Major Kinuthia is a top jet; pilot and instructor with a difference. Apart from the tight flying schedule and the day to day rigors of military details, Maj Kinuthia finds plenty of time and compassionate for the destitute children of Nanyuki children home. To many of his colleagues it is more of a calling, than a mere gesture of charity and empathy. To him he is just doing what he has to do. But simply put, the Officer is merely responding to the compassionate virtue to do good to fellow beings, an urge that all of us have but vehemently suppress throughout our finite existence due to inherent biases. Yielding to this inner virtue, is indeed an outward manifestation of courage and purpose in life. At 38 years of age, an accomplished jet pilot, flying instructor and family man, Mbugua has transcended his elk in a special and unique way.

The Nanyuki Children Home is an orphanage for abandoned and orphaned children. Maj Kinuthia, simply called Mbogua at the orphanage is one of the few beacon of hope at the orphanage. To start with, the officer has dedicated a lot of his time at the orphanage well enough to know each of the 95 children (as at August 2006) at the home by name, character, history and temperament. Once in a while he is called upon to name the nameless angles who find their way into the home from toilets, lodgings, bushes and backstreets where they are abandoned. HIV-AIDS has been a major factor.

Eric takes keen, personaland fatherly; interest in each and every child at the orphanage - ranging from what they eat, what they wear, how and where they sleep, what they wear, their education, their health, their comfort, future etc. Believe it or not this is what the officer does. He has ambitions for the home as well, "If we had means, We would have done blah, blah blah...." says the supersonic flying man as he narrates his wish-list for the home.

According to Ms Helen Gathogo, the Administrator of the home, "Maj Mbugua has been and continues to be of great help to this home, I cannot enumerate the good deeds he has accomplished for this home and the children". The same is echoed by the Matron and her staff. To the children, Mbugua is a great friend in need. Whenever he arrives at the home, business momentarily halts as the multitude of children rush towards him. More often than not, he has one or two surprises for then, none so much financial but a sense of care.

As he takes you around the home, one is galvanized by his sense of compassion. "This is steve, he was picked up last week abandoned in a lodging" He says as he cuddles a one-week-old baby in the babyroom. "And this is Joseph. He was picked up last month from a thicket. He was too bad when he came here. He has greatly improved now" He says as he picks up another baby from a cot. " that one sleeping over there is ...." He goes on and on through every baby in the cot-room.

"….and this is Moses, he is getting adopted next week by a couple" He says as he points to a bouncing 6 months old boy playing in the verandah. Later on outside, "This is Esther, she is HIV positive. She looks a bit sad today" he says as he tries to cheer up the six-year-old girl. We move on to the next building inspecting the beds and cleanliness. Then we come across Ruth, a severely demented girl on a wheelchair, abandoned alone in one of the rooms. Ruth is completely immobile, she can neither speak nor keep her head upright.

The officer bends over and wipes out the excess saliva flowing freely from her mouth and to reposition her properly in her wheel chair. Surprisingly as dumb as she is, she knows Mbugua very well and she burst into life with uncontrollable laughter as the officer talk and makes jokes with her. The officer can decipher what she is saying, her feelings and thoughts. Awe! This is magic! "Ruth has a twin brother called Kirima and both are orphans in this home" Says Kinuthia as we step out of the room to the next.

As we move on, it is conspicuous the officer is well informed and is up to date on the nitty-gritty's of the home - from beddings, baby cots, toilets, hygiene, kitchen, utensils, water, cleanliness, the TV, name it - as if he was the home keeper.