Our Story
Family connection has always been at the heart of the TMET ethos.
During the 1950s, a young anthropologist named Malcolm Ruel took the long journey from the UK to Kuria, Southwest Kenya. Arriving at the grounds of the Gosiani family, Malcolm was welcomed and invited to stay.
Malcolm camped in the family grounds and conducted his anthropological fieldwork in the Kuria region. During this time, Malcolm built a strong bond with the Gosiani family.
Years later, now an academic at Cambridge University in the late 1980s, Malcolm became an external examiner at Nairobi University. During this time, Malcolm returned to Kuria hoping to meet with his old friends. He was delighted to discover that the Gosiani family remained in the same homestead, who gave him a warm welcome upon his return.
Much had changed in the intervening years. The Ruel family had grown, as had the Gosiani family. Malcolm had married and had three daughters.
On his return, Malcolm was given a plot of land on the homestead to build a house. Malcolm’s eldest daughter Sally, now an architect, designed a house of brick with a tin roof.
During this time, and as a measure of the gratitude and affection he felt for the people of Kuria, Malcolm founded TMET to give back to this community.
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He named it to honour two influential Kurian men, Chacha Omaahe and Magige oTatwa, who believed in education for all.
As a tribute to their close bond, Gosiani declared that Malcolm was his third son. Gosiani named Malcolm ‘Nyamohanga o Gosiani’ (translation: a praying Mantis arriving out of the blue to bring good luck).
Malcolm sadly passed away in 2010. The house was gifted to the Gosiani family, and some of the family reside there to this day.
Despite his passing, Malcolm and Gosiani’s family legacy continues. Malcolm’s three daughters Sally, Jo and Pippa are now Trustees, as well as two of his grandchildren’s generation.
Though they have expanded, and the families have branched out in many directions, the Ruel-Gosiani connection endures. The Ruel family visit the Gosiani family during every trustee visit to rekindle ties.
TMET remains to continue the legacy of a Kuria UK partnership dating back to the 1950s. Malcolm set out to return the kindness given to him as a young man, and that ambition will always be at the core of TMET. TMET still works in conjunction with local Kuria branches.
The Gosiani Family, 1950s.
Source: Bristol Musems
Joseph Gosiani is the great grandson of elder Gosiani. Joseph is now heavily involved with TMET. Joseph himself was one of the early students sponsored and says he owes his success to his education. He is the finance manager at the hospital in Isibania in Kuria, and runs the ‘TMET Beneficiary’ group, giving back to the generations after them. He also has two sons. His youngest son is named Malcolm.
Elder Gosiani and a younger relative in 1958.
Source: Bristol Musems