Kenya

Save the Children has been providing support to children in Kenya through our development and humanitarian programmes since 1950. We work with communities, local partners, and the government to design and deliver programmes to meet the needs of the most deprived children. We also advocate for greater investment of public and private resources for children.

More than half of Kenya's population are children. Despite the progress that has been made, high levels of inequality exist which prevents millions of children from surviving and reaching their full potential.

One in four children under the age of five are stunted, with highest rates of stunting in rural and remote areas. Neonatal mortality rates remain high, resulting in children dying within their first month of life. 

Children, especially those living in rural and remote areas, struggle to access quality education, and many do not receive any early education, which is critical for their development. 

Girls are facing sexual violence, with one in three girls experiencing sexual violence before their 18th birthday. 

Kenya is also experiencing a youth bulge, with 78% of the population below the age of 35. These young people struggle to secure sustainable employment, and many remain unemployed. 

Kenya also hosts almost 500,000 refugees from neighbouring countries in the region. More than half of these refugees are children. 

And much of the country experiences extreme climatic conditions like drought, which has devastating effects on the environment and livelihoods of some of the most marginalised and vulnerable communities in Kenya.

Health and Nutrition: We work with the government and partners to reduce maternal and newborn mortality and child malnutrition by scaling up high-impact interventions, advocating for improved health systems and working on social norms and behavior change.

Food Security & Livelihoods: We work with partners to strengthen resilience and sustainable livelihoods, which includes delivering cash transfers and providing life skills training to young people. We also offer financial services through savings groups and train women and youth on nutrition-sensitive agriculture and production.

Child Protection: We strengthen formal and informal child protection mechanisms to keep children safe from violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation. We work with parents and caregivers to help them care for their children without violence and we ensure that vulnerable children received the support and protection services they need.

Child rights governance: our interventions in Kenya, have focused broadly on budget advocacy, international treaty reporting, influencing policies and legislation and supporting the participation of children and young persons in governance matters.

Education: We help young children access early education (both pre-primary and primary), which allows them to develop literacy and numeracy skills through play. We also help out of school children in Dadaab refugee camp access primary education through the Alternative Basic Education centres. We also work with UNICEF and the Ministry of Education to advocate for education reforms, including reforms for education in emergencies.

Adolescents & Youth: We work with adolescents and youth to ensure they realise their rights by giving them a voice and a platform to engage with their leaders.

Humanitarian response: We ensure communities are prepared for disasters, and support emergency relief efforts through the provision of supplies and on-the-ground support.

Gender Equality and Social Inclusion: Save the Children’s commitment to gender equality focuses on creating a world where all children, regardless of gender, have equal opportunities and are valued and respected. We aim to address the root causes of gender inequality and promote the rights and well-being of girls and boys through integrated and transformative approaches. 

Technology for Development: We envision a world where digital innovation bridges gaps in service delivery, enhances program efficiency, and ensures the well-being and rights of every child. Our approach to technology for development (T4D) is driven by the need to create sustainable, scalable, and inclusive solutions that empower communities and improve the quality of life for children. 

Localisation: To increase the leadership and authority of local and national actors so they can best identify and address priorities within their communities for maximum impact, including how resources are used. 

Save the Children Kenya Country Office is focusing on 5 strategic goals in its 2025 -2027 Country Strategic Plan. These goals focus on health, education, child protection, food security and livelihoods and child rights governance.