For Christian Rich (MS ’24, BIO), the path to building a clinic in Kenya began with a game of basketball.
During high school Rich had the opportunity to play for the Mountain Stars Basketball Club, a non-profit organization that brings American and African basketball players together for games and service-oriented aid missions. Although Rich no longer plays for Mountain Stars, the love of service he developed during his trips to Africa inspired him to continue building on the connection he shares with the people of Kenya.
“Every trip the Mountain Stars team participated in included donating healthcare supplies,” Rich shares. “It became clear to me that this is one of the biggest unfulfilled needs faced by the African people. From there, I saw such a natural bridge between my love for Africa and my love for medicine.”
Building on that bridge, Rich is now working closely with Avery Zentner, a pre-health student at Utah Tech University, to spearhead a transformative healthcare initiative in Kenya. Collaborating with the Kilifi County Government and Koins for Kenya, Rich and Zentner aim to build a much-needed medical clinic in the village of Shaka. The clinic will address the urgent healthcare gaps in the area, where residents currently walk up to nine miles to access basic medical care.
Once a thriving center of commerce, particularly in salt, the village now stands as a shadow of its former self. After heavy rains swept the salt away, the disaster became part of the village’s identity and it was renamed Shaka, symbolizing unexpected challenges. As a village still on the mend, Shaka residents face constant challenges. They have no immediate access to medical care, having to walk 3 hours to the nearest clinic. For many, the trek for medical assistance becomes a perilous gamble, with lives lost on the way due to the time-sensitive nature of their ailments.
Understanding Shaka’s unique challenges allowed Rich and Zentner to plan accordingly. “We want to create an outpatient clinic,” Rich explains. “We will help construct the facility, supply it with equipment and an initial stock of supplies—such as bandages and medication—and then we’ll step back and the county government will take on the responsibility of employing personnel and running the clinic.”
Rich and Zentner credit Koins for Kenya as one of the essential driving forces behind their project’s success. Originally connecting with the organization through the Mountain Stars Basketball team, Koins for Kenya responded enthusiastically when Rich and Zentner proposed their plan to build a clinic. “Koins for Kenya is the reason that this is all possible,” Zentner explains. “Leah, our liaison, is able to communicate with the African government, which in turn supports us with the electricity and employees we need. She was the one who traveled to the different villages to see which one could benefit the most from the creation of a clinic, and ultimately, she decided to go with a village called Shaka.”
Construction began in February of 2025, and Rich and Zentner are optimistic that this clinic will serve as a cornerstone for a region on the path to recovery. They plan to arrive in Kenya in May to assist with the completion of the clinic’s construction. However, their vision does not stop there. The clinic will have the necessary infrastructure to grow into a full maternity wing or birthing unit in the future. In other parts of Africa, even small interventions—like providing prenatal vitamins to expectant mothers—have led to significant improvements. Rich and Zentner are hopeful that this clinic will create lasting positive change in Shaka.
As Rich and Zentner reflect on their experiences, both students express a deep sense of gratitude. Zentner recalls the uncertainty the group faced as they worked toward their ambitious fundraising goals, followed by the joy they felt when they achieved them this past December.
“There’s no way we could’ve done that on our own,” Zentner says. “Through God it is possible to do these hard things in college. It’s possible to raise money for people who are in need.”
Reflecting on the way the project has strengthened his love for service, Rich adds, “This experience touches you in a way that’s hard to put into words.” Though Shaka’s road to recovery will be long and arduous, it is thanks to students like Rich and Zentner that hope is being reintroduced into this resilient community. Rich is a great example of a student embracing BYU’s motto of “go forth to serve.”
To learn more about Rich and Zentner’s essential work, click here.