Andrew popularly known as Kenyan Andy, was born in Minnesota, USA, a place many people dream of calling home. Shortly after birth however, he was put under foster care, and at a young age he was taken in by his adoptive family. He had the perfect childhood and life seemed great as he thrived in the foreign land.
Things took a drastic turn when his family moved to California, after which he met his adoptive siblings. Being a black child in a predominantly white household, Andrew was often bullied and efforts to raise alarm went unheard
When he was seven years old, his family took a trip to Kenya to visit an ailing relative, changing his life forever. During their return to the US, they left him at the airport in Kenya ,without making their reasons known.
He was like a deer in headlights, stranded in a foreign country without a passport, money, or a way to contact anyone back home. It hit him that he was completely alone. Realizing he had no other choice, he started asking for help to navigate his way to the city, relying on the kindness of strangers just to survive.
Andrew adapted to his new reality, connecting with other street kids. He spent nights in abandoned buildings, relying on food from street vendors. However, city life proved brutal, filled with dangers such as harassment and theft, leaving him constantly on edge
“I experienced a lot of bullying from street kids, asking me: “Why do you speak like that? How are you here? You dont belong here,”. Everything I had on me was taken within the first two days,” he said in his fluent American accent.
One day, he met a group of young men and one of them, John Kamau, who went on to become Andrew’s best friend, took him in, and offered him a place to sleep. Kamau worked at the Dandora dumpsite, one of the largest landfills in East Africa and he introduced Andy to the tough job.
At the dumpsite, Andrew learned to earn by collecting recyclables, selling them for a few shillings per kilo. On a good day, he made 300-500 Kenyan shillings ($2-$3), just enough to cover a meal and basic necessities.
This filthy environment became Andrew’s unlikely refuge. Despite the harsh conditions, he found a sense of community among fellow workers—street children, former convicts, and struggling families—who shared the same fight for survival.
He was constantly exposed to health risks owing to exposure to toxic fumes, skin infections and the occasional impaling by sharp objects.
He had to develop a thick skin as the dumpsite is notorious for gangs that control different sections of the landfill. With his odd background, he was careful not to be a robbery target.
Over time, Andrew who is now 19-years-old has adapted to life in Kenya, picking up Swahili and adopting local mannerisms. He built relationships with people and also documents his experiences on TikTok, to raise awareness about the struggles of those living and working in such extreme conditions.
Despite his challenges, Andrew remains hopeful for the future. He has reached out to well-wishers for help in finding a place of his own and launching his music career, determined to change his life for the better.
