Compassion in Kenya

More than 135,390
children registered

477
church partners

Over 2,170
mums and their babies supported

Latest update

Poverty is acute in Kenya, and ongoing drought and vast inequality are major contributors.

A growing concern for our local church partners is the way the global food crisis is impacting children and their families in poverty.

Food prices for staple ingredients like beans and maize have soared up to 63 per cent above average. An estimated 4.4 million Kenyans are experiencing acute food insecurity.

The local church in Kenya is well positioned to help, with decades of established trust and relationships within their own communities. With your support, our partners are mobilising resources to offer short and long-term solutions to fight hunger.

Watch the video update below from our local partners in Kenya to learn more.

Country update

How you can pray

Thank you for praying for the children, families and local church partners we serve in Kenya.

Please join us in praying for the following:

Pray for protection over those who are vulnerable to hunger and its devastating ripple effects.
Pray for families as they navigate the dry season, and ask God that they will be able to access food, water and healthcare.
Pray for the provision of school fees and resources for children in the Compassion program.
Pray that Kenyan youth will be empowered and inspired to live their lives in ways that honour God.
Pray for Kenyan families who are affected by the global food crisis. Pray for God’s provision of their daily needs during this challenging time.
Pray that girls will be protected from female genital mutilation.
Pray for wisdom for Kenya's leaders as they address economic issues such as poverty and unemployment.
Pray for peace and stability for the nation of Kenya.

Restoring dignity in Kenya

In many parts of the world, a clean, functional toilet is often taken for granted. Yet at the PCEA Faith Child and Youth Development Centre in Kenya, such a facility was a dream. Children at the centre were struggling daily with sanitation challenges and illness. There were only a few dilapidated toilets available and children often had to go to the bathroom outside. Our local church partner recognised this urgent need and, thanks to a generous supporter, a new block of 10 toilets was built. Read more

A snapshot of Compassion's Child Sponsorship Program in Kenya

Compassion’s program is contextualised across countries and communities, as well as age groups.

Children aged 1 to 3 receive home-based care.
Children aged 3 to 5 visit the Compassion centre for eight hours on Saturday.
Children aged 6 to 11 attend for four to six hours a week.
Students aged 12 and older attend for four hours a week. Centres are open for extended weekend hours during school holidays.

Compassion Program Activities in Kenya

Compassion assisted children in Kenya typically attend program activities at their local child development centre on Saturdays. Here is an example of what a typical program day looks like for children in Kenya.

9:00am - A time of prayer and devotion.

9:30am - Spiritual lessons, in which children sing songs and learn Bible stories.

10:30am - Break time, when children can play in a safe environment and develop friendships. A typical snack consists of a cup of porridge, bread and fruit, and an egg.

11:00am - Social-emotional lessons ranging from conflict resolution to developing healthy self-esteem and developing a godly character. Children often come from challenging home environments and are taught social and personal skills.

12:00pm - Lunch time. The meal usually consists of rice or ugali, beef stew, bean stew or legumes, and green leafy vegetables such as kale or cabbage. Children who are HIV-positive are given nutritional supplements to boost their immunity. During times of food scarcity, children come to the centre with their siblings just for a meal as it’s the only place they are able to eat.

1:00pm - Health lessons, in which children learn practical health and hygiene tips. Example topics include how to prevent malaria and HIV transmission.

2:00pm - Letter writing and career planning. Older children work with local staff to identify their strengths and interests and set goals for their future.

Children are encouraged to join in a variety of extracurricular activities including annual football competitions, teen camps held during the holidays and talent days where children perform music, drama or poems. When they reach the age of 12, youth can elect vocational training skills, such as computer training, carpentry, motor vehicle repair, dressmaking, cooking, hairdressing, driving and life skills.

The greatest needs impacting children living in poverty in Kenya

36%

of people live in extreme poverty

3%

of babies do not reach their first birthday

18%

of children under 5 have stunted growth

Kenya is in East Africa and encompasses wild safaris, lakes, mountain highlands and the dramatic Great Rift Valley. The nomadic Maasai community live in rural Southern Kenya and are easily recognised by their incredible red clothing and beaded jewellery. In urban areas, Kenya is a leader in technology and innovation in Africa.

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic and the onset of the global food crisis, Kenya's poverty rate was steadily falling. But most communities depend on small-scale agriculture for their livelihoods, meaning drought, rising food costs and other serious weather events can quickly plunge millions back into poverty.

A lack of adequate medical care still affects many rural areas, and families are often forced to walk long distances to receive help. The spread of HIV/AIDS is a major concern. Currently, 1.5 million people in Kenya are living with HIV/AIDS—the fourth-largest epidemic in the word—and 28,000 die every year as a result of the disease.

Additionally, over one-fifth of women between the ages of 15 and 49 have been subjected to female genital mutilation (FGM)—again, these figures are among the highest in the world—though the practice has significantly declined in recent years.

In the past decade, Kenya’s relationship with neighbouring Somalia has been fraught. Ongoing violence involving al-Shabaab, a Somali-based Islamist extremist group, continues to this day.

Our local church partners remain committed to caring for vulnerable children in their communities and meeting their holistic needs so they can rise above poverty.

Stories from Compassion around the world

14 Apr, 2016