We work with governments, businesses and local organisations in Kenya to deliver vital charity work to prevent avoidable blindness and uphold the rights of people with disabilities.
Sightsavers in Kenya
Kenya boasts the largest and fastest-growing economy in East and Central Africa.
It has a strong agricultural sector, and emerging services and tourism industries. Yet many people in Kenya struggle to access vital health treatment.
To tackle this, in 2018 the government began piloting universal health coverage, aiming to provide free health care.
There have been several steps to improve disability rights in the country. In 2007, Kenya became one of the first countries to sign the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The government’s National Council for Persons with Disabilities aims to protect and promote human rights for people with disabilities in Kenya, who often face stigma and discrimination.
Facts about Kenya
- Population: 57 million
- Capital: Nairobi
- Official languages: English, Kiswahili
- Human development index (HDI) ranking: 152 (medium)
7.5 million people in Kenya have vision loss or impairment
7 million people in the country are at risk from trachoma
Sources: World Report on Vision, University of Nairobi
Two men ride motorbikes on a dusty dirt road, amid a spectacular rural landscape with distant trees and mountains.
What are the challenges in Kenya, and how can these be addressed?
Eye care
Kenya’s health care system lacks funding and essential resources.
While basic health care is a constitutional right, many people in Kenya are unable to access free treatment and vital medicines. Sightsavers has been carrying out charity work in the country for more than 70 years, aiming to improve local health services, train staff and ensure eye care is available for all.
Infectious diseases
People in Kenya are at a high risk of neglected tropical diseases.
The infectious disease trachoma is endemic in 12 counties across the country, putting thousands of people at risk of losing their sight. Our work on neglected tropical diseases in Kenya focuses on treating and preventing trachoma.
Inclusion and equality
Not everyone in Kenya has equal opportunities.
Many children with disabilities aren’t able to go to school to gain an education, while young adults with disabilities may struggle to find training and employment. Our charity work on disability rights in Kenya focuses on improving education and employment opportunities for everyone.
Nicodemus smiles broadly.
“I’ve always had this dream, but I didn’t have the opportunity. Sightsavers’ academy opened a gateway to my career. Now I’m an IT specialist.”
Nicodemus, who graduated from the IT Bridge Academy for students with disabilities
How you can help
Our work in Kenya is helping to improve health care for everyone, but there’s still more we need to do.
With your support, we want to train more eye care staff, protect people from infectious diseases like trachoma and ensure everyone has the opportunity to achieve their potential. To do this, we need your help.
Charity donations, legacies, corporate partnerships and gifts from charitable foundations are a vital source of funding for our programmes in Kenya. We also welcome opportunities to work in partnership with governments, institutions and development organisations.
Contact us: If you have any questions about our work in Kenya, would like more information about our programmes or wish to discuss ways you can donate or support us, email [email protected]
Latest stories from Kenya
Our sights are set on eliminating trachoma in Kenya
Four-year-old Lanoi was suffering with trachoma. With the help of eye health workers and volunteers, she received treatment to end the pain of trachoma.
Sightsavers Kenya celebrates 70-year anniversary
Sightsavers began working in Kenya in 1952, when blindness affected up to 7% of rural Kenyans.
May 2023
Making assessments more accessible for children with disabilities
How an evaluation tool to assess children’s development has been adapted for young children with disabilities in Kenya.
Veronica Stapleton, February 2023
Transforming education for every child in Kenya and Nigeria
In Nigeria and Kenya, two innovative education projects are enabling children with disabilities to reach their potential.
February 2023
We are… training young people with disabilities
We’re working with partners in Kenya to give young people the skills and practical experience they need to begin a career in IT.
“I was the first trachoma surgeon in my region”
Meet Samson, a trachoma surgeon who’s saving people’s sight by performing pop-up operations and outreach in remote communities in Kenya.
Discover where Sightsavers works in Africa and Asia
Where we work