Founder Elijah Wafula

I’m a builder, interior designer, and entrepreneur whose journey has taken me from the skies of California to the classrooms of rural Kenya each chapter defined by purpose, resilience, and a passion for impact.

Born and raised in Kenya, I moved to the United States at age 18 to pursue aviation, training at Sierra Academy of Aeronautics in Oakland, California. After earning my Private, Commercial, and Instrument ratings, my path changed dramatically following the loss of my parents in 2001. I left flying behind and discovered a new calling in construction.

In 2005, my brother Evans and I launched a construction business in California. Over the next decade, we built everything from residential homes to large-scale commercial projects, and I was fortunate to work with some of the best in the field including contractors involved in iconic developments like One Rincon Hill in San Francisco.

Eventually, our professional paths diverged, and I returned to Kenya where I founded Sage Development Ltd. I brought my experience home, leading high-end design and construction projects, including the remodeling of the Golf Pro Shop at one of Kenya’s most prestigious golf clubs.

But the project that changed everything for me was Acorn Special Tutorial a four-classroom block I designed and built for children with special needs. Seeing their joy as they stepped into their new classrooms was deeply moving. It was in that moment I realized I didn’t just want to build structures I wanted to build with purpose.

Since then, I’ve dedicated my work to developing classroom blocks across Kenya, creating safe, beautiful, and functional spaces where children can learn, thrive, and dream.