Kenya

Kenya’s leading cause of sight loss is cataracts, while diseases such as trachoma also play a part. Our work in the country focuses on improving eye care and preventing eye disease.

When Sightsavers started working in Kenya in 1952, our focus was to eliminate avoidable blindness and provide rehabilitation for adults who were irreversibly blind.

Today, we’re continuing this work by improving local health services, training doctors and eye surgeons, and making sure eye care is available for everyone.

We’re also working to eliminate several neglected tropical diseases in Kenya: we distribute medication to help control the spread of blinding trachoma, and educate local communities about the importance of hygiene and cleanliness to prevent diseases spreading.

Finally, our inclusive education programmes in Kenya aim to make sure children with disabilities are able to go to school. We raise awareness in communities about disability rights, and train teachers so they have the specialist skills needed to teach children with disabilities.

I worried I would go completely blind. But after my surgery, I can see! I’m full of joy and I’m so grateful to everyone.

Simburia, cataract patient

How we’re making a difference in Kenya

Boy is held by his mother, he has a face washing guide in his hand.

Raising awareness

Our Super School of 5 project, in northern Kenya, features superhero characters to encourage children to wash their hands and faces.
Read about the project

Flash sits at his desk in a wheelchair in school, surrounded by his classmates as they listen to their teacher.

Inclusive education

Flash Odiwuor, a 13-year-old from Kenya, caught polio and lost the use of his legs. But a Sightsavers project enabled him to return to school.
Read Flash’s story

Protecting sight

We train eye health workers and help to improve local healthcare services in Kenya to make sure no one goes blind from avoidable causes.
Read about our work

Your donation could help to protect sight

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More from Kenya

A man has his eyes checked at a screening camp in Kasungu, Malawi

Blogs / Fighting disease /

The Coordinated Approach to Community Health programme, which finished in March 2019, has restored the sight of more than 21,000 people and generated a wealth of knowledge.

School children in Kenya sing songs outside in the sunshine.

From the field / Fighting disease /

Sightsavers’ Julie Jenner meets the teachers and students who are fighting disease and preventing blindness by teaching children about good hygiene.

Old black and white photo showing a group of young men on a mountain slope.

News / Disability rights /

On 20 February 1969, Sightsavers supported men with visual impairments on an expedition to raise awareness about blindness.

A group of patients in Kenya smile and laugh following their cataract surgery.

From the field /

In October, celebrations took place in many of Sightsavers' programme countries to mark World Sight Day. Plus news from Kenya, Mozambique and more.

Felix in a white coat sitting behind some ophthalmology equipment.

From the field /

News from Zambia, where Sightsavers helped Felix to gain his ophthalmology diploma. Plus news from Guinea, Togo and more.

A woman in Tanzania splashes water on her face from a metal bucket.

From the field / Fighting disease /

To mark World Water Week 2018, Sightsavers’ NTD Programme Officer Cade Howard shares tips from the field about how water can help to eliminate this painful, blinding disease.

Hula wears her new glasses and reads from a sheet of paper.

From the field /

The latest from Kenya, where Sightsavers staff have been carrying out eye screenings in a refugee camp in Turkana. Plus news from India and Nigeria.

A lady smiling outside a centre in Malawi which provides physiotherapy.

News / Disability rights /

The funding, which was announced by UK Secretary of State Penny Mordaunt, aims to address disability inclusion in developing countries.

Anwar, who has a prosthetic leg, running alongside other people with disabilities.

From the field /

A round-up of the latest work that your donations help to support. Featuring news from India, Kenya, Senegal, Uganda and Nigeria.

From the field /

A round-up from the field, including news from the CATCH programme in Uganda and Kenya, plus updates from India and Burkina Faso.

People line up along a jetty in the Subdarbans in southern India.

From the field /

A round-up from the field, including news from India, where a book has been published to highlight Sightsavers’ work in the coastal Sundarbans region.

Fynn meets programme staff during his trip.

From the field / Eye health /

In summer 2017, 16-year-old Fynn Helyar travelled to Samburu County in Kenya to see eye examinations, diagnoses and surgery. Here is his story.

We save sight in 30 countries worldwide

Where we work

We work to eliminate avoidable blindness and promote the rights of people with disabilities.

Find out how your support can make a huge difference and change lives.

Kenya

Kenya’s leading cause of sight loss is cataracts, while diseases such as trachoma also play a part. Our work in the country focuses on improving eye care and preventing eye disease.

When Sightsavers started working in Kenya in 1952, our focus was to eliminate avoidable blindness and provide rehabilitation for adults who were irreversibly blind.