John was born and raised in Kajiado County by his mother, a single parent. From an early age, he witnessed the challenges people face in accessing proper healthcare. One memory that stayed with him was of a cousin suffering from malnutrition who was treated by a local herbalist. The herbalist prescribed ointments, but they did nothing to address the real issue. The problem wasn’t neglect—it was a lack of knowledge.

It wasn’t until John began studying clinical medicine at Kenya Methodist University that he came to understand what his cousin had actually suffered from: marasmus, a severe form of malnutrition that requires protein-rich nutrition for treatment. “Once they would have known what was the problem, it would have been easy to access the medication,” John explains.

That realization lit a spark that became a calling: to pursue medicine and bring better care—and greater awareness—to families and communities like his own.

*John in his office at The Caitlin O’Hara Community Health Clinic*

At university, John quickly found his passion in pediatrics. He was drawn to the challenge of caring for children—of diagnosing illnesses when the patient couldn’t yet explain their symptoms. “I really loved the children,” he shares. “When you see a child, you start treating them, they are getting well…you want to dig into what is the cause of their problems.”

John’s first job was at a rural clinic in Ol-moran, Kenya. The clinic, supported by Catholic nuns, served 15 surrounding villages and became the place where John's sense of community service truly took root. He worked closely with a local priest—now a lifelong mentor—who regularly invited John to accompany him on visits to the villages, where the priest would bless the sick and John would provide medical care. These visits allowed John to provide care across the region, solidifying his commitment to bringing healthcare to those who need it most.

*”Community is ensuring that everyone around you is better. Physically, mentally, spiritually.”*

John Ndegwa, TLP Clinical Officer

Of his experience at Ol-moran, John recalls, “You are the first person to see a patient. You have to take care of the condition as soon as possible to prevent any complications.” The experience deepened his understanding of medicine—not just as science, but as service. He quickly learned that healing went beyond physical treatment. “The psychological support is always part of the treatment,” he says. “You don’t look at just the physical aspect, you have to look at what surrounds that patient.”

Following his time in Ol-moran, John joined North Kinangop Catholic Hospital in Nyandarua, Kenya, where he worked in the internal medicine ward and helped launch a palliative care program that included home visits. These visits offered families comfort, clarity, and a sense of partnership during some of the most difficult moments of their lives. “We came to you and sat with them—explained every step in the treatment process,” he explained. During this time, John saw many people living with cancer, too many who were young, and diagnosed with very late stage cancer. This experience helped fuel his interest in oncology, especially the need for prevention and early diagnosis. “Oncology in Kenya…it’s usually a late diagnosis,” he says. “People forget about prevention, early diagnosis, and timely treatment.”

John first heard about The Leo Project through a former colleague whose mother was receiving care for cervical cancer. What stood out to him wasn’t just the medical treatment—it was the follow-up, the compassion, and the sense that patients were truly seen. “That reminded me of where I started,” he says.

Now a Clinical Officer at The Leo Project’s Caitlin O’Hara Community Health Clinic, John brings his wealth of experience, sharp clinical instincts, and unwavering empathy to the team. He sees each patient not just as a diagnosis, but as a whole person shaped by their mental, emotional, and social environment. “You are giving them a service that will help them...so that they can be better every day,” he says. His work is rooted in a belief that community matters, and to him, ”community is ensuring that everyone around you is better. Physically, mentally, spiritually.”

Reflecting on what his work at The Leo Project has meant, John shares that, “At the end of the day when you sit in your house, you will say, ‘Today I did something. Today I helped someone. Today someone helped me.’” Outside of work, John is a devoted husband and father. His wife, Rosemary, is also a nurse—they met while working in the internal medicine ward in Nyandarua. As The Leo Project prepares to expand and build an inpatient maternity and oncology hospital, John is ready to grow alongside it. “I hope to continue to help prevent what we can, treat what we are able, and do timely referrals,” he says. “And when the new facility comes, I look forward to growth,” John added, referring to TLP’s expansion into in-patient care through the building of a maternity and oncology hospital adjecent to our out-patient health clinic.

At his core, John is guided by a belief in community—not just as a place, but as a shared responsibility. And that’s exactly what he brings to The Leo Project—every single day.

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The Leo Project is now expanding into in-patient care to address urgent needs in maternal health and cancer treatment—bringing life-saving services closer to home. Explore our hospital expansion plans here.

Meet John Ndegwa: Delivering Compassionate Care at The Leo Project

What Health Equity Looks Like