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Kenya
Why are we in Kenya? The latest poverty data from The World Bank indicates that 36% of people in Kenya are still living below the poverty line, while youth unemployment stands at 39%. Concern’s work is concentrated where most of Kenya’s poor live: in rural, arid and semi-arid lands in the north, as well as in the informal settlements of Nairobi.
A significant proportion of Kenya’s population lacks access to basic services such as education, health, electricity and safe drinking water
Climate change continues to seriously impact the poor in rural areas, with Kenya regularly experiencing devastating droughts. In 2022, Kenya is experiencing its worst drought in decades following three consecutive poor rainy seasons, resulting in widespread water scarcity, mass livestock deaths, and millions facing extreme hunger.
People living in affected areas have no time to recover from one emergency to the next. One outcome of this is increased migration towards urban centres. 2019 census data indicates that 60% of Nairobi's 4.3 million people live in slums. The provision of basic services such as health, education and sanitation is failing.
Politically, devolution of power has been extended to county level, however implementation still faces key challenges. We are committed to addressing the root causes of poverty in urban and rural programme areas by strengthening the capacity of public service providers to meet basic needs and by enhancing the income and wellbeing of the extremely poor.
Concern's programmes in Kenya
Our work spans four main programme areas: Livelihoods, Disaster Risk Reduction, Education, Health and Nutrition that are underpinned by governance and advocacy and women empowerment.
Our primary focus for humanitarian emergency response is food and nutrition security.
Concern works with people living in conditions of extreme poverty in the northern arid and semi-arid lands in Marsabit, Turkana, Isiolo, West Pokot and Tana River and the (often hidden) poor in the informal settlements of Nairobi.
Health and nutrition
Our focus is to:
- Prevent under-nutrition and extreme hunger.
- Improve maternal and child health.
- Improve access to clean water and sanitation.
Education
Livelihoods
Governance and advocacy
Latest achievements
Emergency response
In 2021, Concern responded to Covid-19, Drought and Locust infestation-related emergencies directly reaching 119,733 people.
We focused on maintaining our existing programme, raising awareness to reduce the spread of Covid-19 and supporting the communities most impacted by crisis. The indirect impact of our work reached to more than 1.4 million people in Kenya.
Health and nutrition
Education
Akiru Leakanoi in Sarima village with Isacko Bonaya, Concern emergency support officer. Photo: Ed Ram/Concern Worldwide
Concern staff checks the health of Nyanga (2.5 years old) at a health clinic in Marsabit, Kenya. Photo: Jennifer Nolan / Concern Worldwide
Saline Atieno holding Cynthia who was just born today. Saline came to Korogocho Health Centre to give birth as part of the antenatal programme she attends here. Nairobi, Kenya Photo: Jennifer Nolan
Mother Chuluke Tuye with her baby having a check-up in Marsabit County, Kenya. Photo: Ed Ram
Bati with her classmates in the Science lab at Kalacha Nomadic Girls School. Kenya Photo: Jennifer Nolan
How we're helping Kenya
We are working hard to combat suffering and build resilience in Kenya. We are doing this by implementing programmes which will strengthen resilience, respond to emergencies and provide access to quality education.
Access to services
Food security
Improved governance
Latest from Kenya
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