Our work in 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.
At a glance
Total populationWhat we focus on
Key programmes
How we’re making a difference in Kenya
Raising awareness
Our Super School of 5 project, in northern Kenya, features superhero characters to encourage children to wash their hands and faces.
Learn about the project
Disability rights
Collins Ombajo is a disability activist in Kenya. Here he shares his story and why he became involved in the Inclusive Futures initiative.
Read Collins’ story
Protecting sight
We train eye health workers and help to improve local healthcare in Kenya to make sure no one goes blind from avoidable causes.
About our work
Your donation could help to protect sight
DONATEMore from Kenya
Sightsavers and partners launch US$6 million inclusion and labour rights programme
The Global Labor Program, part of the Inclusive Futures initiative, aims to increase the inclusion of people with disabilities and improve labour rights at two large Kenyan companies.
The IT Bridge Academy: what’s next for students?
In Kenya, students who have been studying IT as part of a Sightsavers initiative are now looking ahead to their graduation, internships and future careers.
The Global Disability Summit: views from Pakistan and Kenya
Our country office teams in Pakistan and Kenya spoke to the organisations of people with disabilities they work with about their hopes for the upcoming Global Disability Summit.
Advancing disability data in Kenya through partnership
Sightsavers worked with the Kenyan government and partners to create the country’s first inclusive data action plan, which will help collect high-quality data about people with disabilities and the barriers they face.
First cross-border treatments for trachoma are distributed in Kenya and Uganda
On 21 October 2021, teams in key districts on both sides of the Kenyan-Ugandan border began a mass drug distribution campaign to fight the disease.
Building a career in IT with the Bridge Academy
In Kenya, a Sightsavers initative is helping young people with disabilities launch their careers. Here, some of the students share their stories.
We save sight in 30 countries worldwide
Where we work