ActionAid has been active in Kenya since 1974. We now work with over a million poor people, and the key areas we focus on are livelihoods, water, health and education. An important area of our work is distributing food and water supplies to the areas worst-affected by drought and flooding. We provide humanitarian support for internally displaced people.
Kenya has endured prolonged droughts in recent years, leaving 10 million people in need of food aid. Flooding also poses a serious threat to rural communities as climate change takes hold. Political stability in Kenya remains fragile, and over 1,000 people were killed and many more displaced during post election-related violence in 2007-2008. This has contributed to a declining tourism industry, while prices for agricultural exports such as tea and coffee have also fallen in recent years.
Child sponsorship in Kenya
Geoffrey Chacha (11 years old, pictured right) loves to draw pictures and messages for his sponsor in the UK. He enjoys going to school and wants to be a pilot when he grows up.
Many children like Geoffrey in Kenya have difficulty staying in school when they are in poverty. That's why ActionAid sponsorship money is helping to address the real causes of poverty as well as supporting communities to support themselves.
Health and wealth in Kenya
We work with local communities to develop long-term solutions to the problems that keep people trapped in poverty. ActionAid Kenya is teaching villagers new farming techniques, and helping them establish savings and credit groups. We also work with communities to provide access to safe water supplies and train health workers.
Kenya has a high level of people living with HIV and AIDS. ActionAid Kenya campaigns for better access to antiretroviral drugs for poor people, and helps women and children affected by HIV/AIDS to support themselves. A project in Kuria district which works to fight the stigma associated with the disease runs door-to-door counselling and testing.
East Africa drought
In 2011, more than 13 million people across East Africa were affected by the worst drought in some regions for more than 60 years. Failed rains and rocketing food prices meant that women and children were struggling to survive.
Thanks to our generous supporters, ActionAid was able to reach over 380,000 people across 14 of the worst affected areas in Kenya. We are continuing to provide long-term support to communities.
How you can help
When you sponsor a child in Kenya, you'll be providing the resources for real, long-term change. You'll get two letters a year from the child you sponsor, and updates from the country programme to tell you how the money you are spending is changing the community your child lives in.
