Kenya is a vibrant and diverse country in East Africa, rich in culture, community and resilience.
Alongside Nairobi’s skyscrapers and luxury safaris, Kenya’s capital holds areas of acute deprivation. Rapid urbanisation, rising debt and the climate crisis are shaping daily life for millions of people.
Kenya is the focus of Christian Aid Week 2026. Together we can support families to escape the cruel grip of urban poverty and build a brighter future.
Where is Kenya?
Kenya is in East Africa. It sits on the equator and shares borders 5 other countries including Tanzania, South Sudan and Ethiopia. It also has a coastline along the Indian Ocean.
Kenya’s geography is incredibly diverse. It includes savannah grasslands, mountains, lakes, forests and semi-arid land. Mount Kenya, Africa’s second highest mountain, gives the country its name.
The capital city is Nairobi – one of Africa’s largest and fastest-growing cities.
How many people live in Kenya?
What languages are spoken in Kenya?
What challenges is Kenya facing?
Like many countries, Kenya faces serious challenges – many of which are shaped by global inequality and the climate crisis.
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29%
29% of Kenyans lived below the poverty line in 2023 (UNDP). This figure is increasing each year.
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46%
Almost half of the population (46%) lives on less than $3 a day (World Bank). Most employment is unstable. Only around 15% of jobs are formal.
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4%
Just over 4% of children die before their fifth birthday (World Food Programme).
Families are tackling food insecurity head-on. This Christian Aid Week, give, act and pray as communities grow food, income and resilience.
Food insecurity and farming
Around 80% of the country’s landmass is arid or semi-arid, leaving it highly vulnerable to climate shocks.
Severe droughts are often followed by heavy rain and floods that devastate crops. This disruption to the food supply pushes grocery prices beyond the means of many households.
In the challenging climate, some fresh produce is grown using dangerous, unregulated chemical pesticides – posing serious health risks.
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Malnutrition
The heartbreaking consequence of failing food supply chains in Kenya is that families are simply not getting the nutrition they need.
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>33%
More than a third of the population is undernourished (Global Hunger Index).
Debt crisis
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£7b
Kenya will pay $7bn in debt repayments (with high interest rates) to private lenders between now and 2030.
Rapid urbanisation
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>50%
More than 50% of people in Nairobi live in semi-permanent, informal settlements
These are highly populated areas of densely packed housing. Dwellings are often simply built and made of steel sheets or concrete.
Residents have limited access to basic services such as water, sanitation and electricity. For people living in informal settlements, incomes are low and job opportunities scarce.
Life is often lived day to day.
New urban farmers in Nairobi are building sustainable livelihoods through training, tools and determination. Will you support someone like Fridah to overcome poverty and food insecurity?
Urban farming to combat hunger and poverty
In the informal settlement of Dagoretti, an urban farming movement is driving change.
Imarisha Kilimo – meaning “strengthen agriculture” in Swahili – supports families to develop sustainable livelihoods through urban farming. Delivered by our trusted partner, Beacon of Hope, the project offers seeds, training and tools.
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New urban farmers learn to grow vegetables in small spaces and unexpected places.
Nutritious vegetables are reaching children’s dinner plates. Income is being earned through the selling of surplus. Parents who once lived day to day are now buying everyday essentials and saving for a brighter future.
As Fridah, who has been supported by the programme, says: ‘When I harvest what I’ve planted, it makes me happy. Urban farming has changed my life.’
