Showing Compassion in Kenya
Since 1980, Compassion has partnered with local churches in Kenya to lift children out of poverty in Jesus’ name. Today, more than 114,000 children are benefiting from Compassion’s support and care at more than 400 child development centers across the country. Every one of these children receives the nutrition, access to health care and educational support they need to overcome poverty and grow into fulfilled, self-sufficient adults.
After gaining independence from Britain in 1963, Kenya made great strides toward reducing poverty. However, government corruption, persistent drought and frequent crop failures prevented sustained economic development. By the early 1980s, half the population was living in poverty, and that figure has remained relatively consistent to this day. About 22 million people live on less than US$1.90 per day, and 40 percent of the population is unemployed.
Three-quarters of the Kenyan workforce depends on agriculture for its livelihood, but less than 20 percent of the country is suitable for farming. The industry is dominated by subsistence farmers, and the average farm is just 6 acres. These farmers lack access to major markets and are unfamiliar with modern farming methods, leaving many struggling to support their families.
Food insecurity remains a serious problem, particularly in the northern part of the country, where 1.1 million people do not have enough to eat. More than one-third of children suffer from stunting or chronic malnutrition. Malnourished children face many developmental challenges, not least a reduced ability to concentrate in school. To help tackle this issue, Compassion provides nutritious meals to every child who attends their local child development center, and meals are also provided to siblings during acute food shortages.
Since 2003, primary education is free and compulsory, and the government plans to introduce free secondary education for all students. But a shortage of teachers, chronic underfunding and high levels of absenteeism mean that literacy levels remain low, especially in rural areas. Just 75 percent of students progress to secondary school.
A staggering 70 percent of Kenyans do not have access to an improved sanitation facility, and just 63 percent have access to a reliable source of safe water. This puts children at risk of serious illness and causes them to miss school and Compassion activities. In particular, regular outbreaks of bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A and typhoid fever can have life-altering consequences, even threatening children’s lives.
The rapid spread of HIV/AIDS has led to 1 million children being orphaned. Currently 1.5 million people in Kenya are living with HIV, and 35,800 die every year as a result of the virus. The problem is particularly acute in rural areas, where access to medical care and life-saving drugs are limited.
More than one-quarter of women between the ages of 15 and 49 have been subjected to female genital mutilation (FGM). This is one of the highest rates of FGM in the world, although the practice has begun to decline in recent years.
Compassion is striving to create the conditions in which every child in Kenya benefits from a good education, in which every child has enough to eat, and in which every child has access to quality medical care. Our child development centers provide an essential base for these efforts. They are staffed by workers who are dedicated to improving children’s lives in Jesus’ name and to reaching out to those most in need.
Kenya Quick Facts
- 46 percent of Kenyans are living in poverty.
- Life expectancy in Kenya is just 64 years.
- Nearly 3 million children are engaged in child labor.
- 11 percent of babies are born with a low birth weight.
- Just 30 percent of the population has access to an improved sanitation facility.
Sources: UNAIDS; US Department of Labor; The World Factbook; Unicef.