Registration came through at exactly 11:14 a.m. two weeks ago.

Oti burst into the house waving the official government letter so hard I thought he would tear it in half. I didn’t even try to hide the tears that rushed to my eyes. That one paper; stamped, signed, sealed and meant more to me than any certificate I had ever earned in my life.

It meant permanence.

Legitimacy.

A home no one could shut down.

Pendo Odhiambo: Founder and Director, Malaika House.

It still feels surreal to ...