At the time they were contacted by Fr. Giuseppe Allamano, founder of the Consolata missionaries and later proclaimed blessed by the Vatican, they were still called Vincentian Sisters, although they belonged to the congregation of St. Joseph Benedict Cottolengo. From 1917, with Cottolengo's beatification, they became "cottolenghine."
By 1903, in Kenya, Consolata missionaries had already been in the territory for some years, particularly in the highlands north of Nairobi. In the missions of Limuru, Toro, Tuthu, Icigaki and Tigana, mainly priests and lay missionaries were lending their charitable services. There was a need for nuns who could gain the trust of mothers and be familiar with children's problems. It was hard to think of evangelization without being more immediate and practical in the needs of the communities.
So the Cottolengo Sisters began to join the Consolata in missions in Kenya.
After the World War and the untimely death of Sister Maria Carola Cecchin, who would gladly have remained on the slopes of Mount Kenya where by then she was mother, sister and friendly presence to many, and almost for everyone "the White Saint," the Cottolengo Sisters left in Kenya, replaced by their Consolata counterparts, who in the meantime from being a purely male congregation, at the request of Pope Pius X, had begun to train sisters for their missions. But the story of Cottolengo's presence in Kenya did not end there.  They did in fact return to Nairobi almost half a century later, in 1972, once again called back by the Consolata. This time for their experience in dealing with the disabled. In Nairobi (thanks to the work of Italian builders and donors) the Langata headquarters was built, which currently houses the sisters of the congregation and a shelter for HIV-positive children. This year marks the 50th anniversary of Cottolengo's return to Kenya, and there could be no better occasion than the beatification of the most famous and historic missionary presence in the country, Venetian nun Maria Carola Cecchin, who will be proclaimed blessed.