James is the firstborn in a family of two siblings. His father died in September 2023. He and his brother live with their mother. They get washing and bathing water from the lake and drinking water from a nearby government water supply.

James Otieno was born on 3rd September 2016. He is the firstborn in a family of two siblings. He joined CGA Grade One in January 2024 after previously attending a local private primary school within Mbita. His father died in September 2023 leaving James and his younger brother under the care of their young mother. His younger brother is currently two years old. They live in a rental permanent house thirty minutes walk from CGA. The mother is an ECD teacher who lost her job recently forcing her to put up a small stall by the roadside where she sells vegetables and fruits to support her two kids. The mother has employed someone to run a motorcycle taxi left behind by her late husband which gives her some income to supplement the little she gets from the stall. The family gets washing and bathing water from the lake and drinking water from the nearby government water supply. James sleeps on a mattress spread on the floor under a mosquito net. They share toilet and bathroom facilities with other family tenants in the compound.