Tag Archive for: Poverty in Kenya

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8 Facts About The World Bank’s New Water Forward Program

New Water Forward ProgramApproximately 4 billion people worldwide are victims of water scarcity. To combat this, the World Bank recently announced its newest program, “Water Forward,” in collaboration with many other multilateral developmental banks. This initiative will target assisting water-stressed nations, particularly in Asia and Africa, by limiting water leakage, modernizing national irrigation systems, modernizing the nation’s water usage data collection and improving how wastewater is reused. Here are eight facts about the new program.

Background

The Water Forward initiative aims to improve water access for 1 billion people worldwide. The World Bank has predicted their independent investment in Water Forward should improve water access for over 400 million people by 2030. To supplement this, other multilateral developmental banks have also pledged their resources to access an additional 600 million people. An impact this size would provide an incredible amount of improvement for the world’s water-scarce populations.

Water Forward looks to expand and protect 1.7 billion water-related jobs. The increased investment in national large-scale water projects will not only create new local jobs in water-related sectors, but also improve the conditions of existing professions. Within affected nations, job growth is expected in sectors like agriculture, water system manufacturing, energy and maintenance.

Investment

Many different developmental banks are helping with funding the Water Forward program. The new initiative displays great examples of international collaboration, with a total of 10 multilateral developmental banks involved. Some of these banks include the Asian Development Bank, the Council of Europe Development Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank, the Islamic Development Bank and the OPEC Fund for International Development, among others.

The initiative aims to double worldwide private investment in water. Public investment dominates capital expenditure in water, with a whopping 90% of capital investment coming from governments. However, the World Bank claims that it believes private investment can be increased to 20% within the next 10 years. They claim this is partly due to tightening government budgets and a rising need for water pricing to reflect its essentiality to life. To attract private investment, the World Bank will seek to create safer water projects with the potential for higher returns.

Water Compacts

Fourteen countries have already announced their water compacts under the initiative. Water compacts exist as commitments from nations to the Water Forward plan, with outlines for how they can best help improve water availability within their respective nations. The 14 nations are Albania, Angola, Bolivia, Cambodia, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Uzbekistan and Vietnam. These commitments symbolize the willingness of these nations to follow the World Bank’s guidelines and improve water availability in their nations.

Examples

Kenya started their expanded water access program 13 years ago and looks to expand it with the help of the World Bank. Kenya has been implementing the World Bank-financed “Water Security and Climate Resilience Project” since 2013. This program has increased access to irrigation water and enhanced institutional frameworks for water security. As of 2025, thousands of farmers have gained access to improved irrigation systems as a result of the program.

Uzbekistan’s Water Forward compact aims to provide water security for 3.8 million people and improve irrigation access for 2.2 million people. Uzbekistan, one of the most recent issuers of a water compact, has pledged to install water-saving technology within 1.1 million hectares of land, which should reduce irrigation losses by 25%. Furthermore, it hopes to modernize almost 11,000 km of the main canal, digitalize farm water intake points, and achieve 100% coverage of clean drinking water and modern sanitation by 2030.

– Luca Napolitano

Luca is based in Boston, MA, USA and focuses on Good News and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Amparo Confidence Sockets and Kenyan Amputees

Kenyan AmputeesIn Kenya, as of 2025, approximately 0.9% of the population is living with disabilities. Of that population, 42% experience disabilities related to motor function and 80% live in more rural parts of Kenya. Due to the nature of Kenya’s public health facilities, which often lack adequate equipment to provide more adapted amenities for Kenyans with mobility-related disabilities, a large number of Kenyans live with only the most basic levels of aid. 

Despite this, technology being deployed in the form of the Amparo Confidence Socket in Kenya has the capacity to modernize and revolutionize the lives of Kenyan amputees.

Causes of Amputations in Kenya

Around the world, amputations happen often for a plethora of reasons. In Kenya, a disproportionate number of amputations occur due to many different factors. For instance, in Kenya, around 550,000 people are living with diabetes, with more than one in three undiagnosed.

When diabetes is not managed, which can be the case when someone is living with undiagnosed diabetes, amputations may end up being the only form of treatment. Another factor is amputations related to trauma. In Kenya, 35.7% of amputations are a result of trauma-related incidents. 

Part of the high number of trauma-related incidents includes poor road infrastructure, which has the capacity to cause accidents weekly. Even with the different reasons as to how Kenya, as a country, ended up with a high portion of its population requiring aid in relation to their motor-related disabilities, there are still many barriers to achieving access to technology that could help. These barriers limit the availability and use of such technology.

The Amparo Confidence Socket

Designed for individuals with amputations in areas that often lack resources, the Amparo Confidence Socket was created as an “off-the-shelf prosthetic socket technology.” This allows for a more streamlined fitting process and increased portability. It makes the technology accessible to more rural communities.

The company Amparo, in partnership with the Global Disability Innovation Hub at University College London, deployed the Confidence Socket in Kenya as part of a clinical trial. The aim was to evaluate its effectiveness. It was later found that participants in the study had improved mobility after being fitted with the Confidence Socket. 

Despite some later complaints about decreased comfort, the Amparo Confidence Socket notably increased users’ access to prosthetic services. It also supported improved mobility outcomes.

Going Forward

The Amparo Confidence Socket has the capacity to truly revolutionize the experience of amputees in Kenya. There is still room for improvement in the comfort and long-term use of the Amparo Confidence Socket in Kenya. However, its introduction, along with its flexibility in transportation and fit, has the potential to revolutionize the lives of Kenyan amputees.

– Bernice Attawia 

Bernice is based in London, UK and focuses on Global Health and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash

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How Charities Are Responding to Flooding in Kenya

Flooding in KenyaFlooding in Kenya has displaced more than 412,000 people since September 2025. Unprecedented levels of rainfall, following the El Niño rainy season, triggered the flooding, recording one of the heaviest rain seasons in Kenya’s history. These torrential rains have now led to floods across 33 out of Kenya’s 47 states, and the situation has only been worsened by the prolonged drought that has resulted in ruined infrastructure and farmland, almost irreparably damaging thousands of people’s livelihoods. These extreme weather events are not just extraordinary occurrences, but evidence of how natural disasters can affect the country.

The Effects of Flooding in Kenya

The flooding in Kenya has resulted in displacement, deaths, damaged or lost infrastructure and farmland, with destruction across all sectors: 11,311 losses in livestock, submergence of 61 key roads and the destruction of nearly 2,000 schools and 62 health centres nationwide, according to Help.NGO.

One personal testimony comes from Felista, who states: “Flooding has taken away my livelihood source.” Felista is a displaced mother and business owner as a herbalist, who looks after her daughter and grandchildren owing to her daughter’s mental health issues, and now “[she] can no longer access herbs.”

Unfortunately, the combination of flooding in Kenya and the ensuing fast-onset drought has not only hurt individuals’ and families’ incomes, but also people’s health and access to basic necessities such as food, water, and education.

Public Health Concerns

According to Dr Pius Mutuku, a medical epidemiologist from the Ministry of Health, flooding made 14 facilities close down and affected a major water treatment facility, resulting in a shortage of clean water for 3,000 people. Tana River County alone reported 44 cholera cases, which is one of the most flood-affected regions and in displacement camps that are rapidly filling up, medical emergencies such as this are significant worries to public health.

Poverty is a multidimensional issue, affecting not only the economy but also creating a poverty of knowledge and independence. Schools across the country have closed due to water damage, postponing term for two weeks due to the disruption and lost infrastructure that prevents staff and students travelling to school. The Kenyan government has chosen to demolish houses, specifically informal settlements near the major rivers – the worst affected flood zones- to reduce future flood damage. However, this means destroying nearby infrastructure also, which puts families in the worst socio-economic situations at greater risk, removing their access further to facilities for health care or education.

The Response

Kenya Red Cross (KRCS) has traditionally been the centre of emergency response efforts, but the organization found itself stretched beyond capacity in this crisis and in need of additional man-power and financial support. County emergency funds had been depleted, and local authorities were unable to respond to the flooding in Kenya alone until Help NGO joined KRCS, offering field support and new technology.

The United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) has also contributed to the crisis team, allocating $3 million US dollars to humanitarian partners to support the assistance of 190,000 people across 10 counties severely ruined by the flooding in Kenya.

Funding is a silent but crucial element of resolving national and international crises like this one, and this money from CERF went toward organizations like the World Food Program (WFP), which is providing cash assistance to affected families, to help them meet their most urgent needs in the time of disruption and loss. This cash assistance aimed to reach those most vulnerable in society, and those most harshly affected by the floods and drought, such as the disabled, chronically ill, or the urban poor population.

Another method of cash assistance and funding is the Adaptation Fund, which finances projects worth more than $49 million to reshape infrastructure so it can withstand natural disaster-influenced events like shock floods and droughts. This aid is especially significant to those living in urban poverty, whose informal settlements are most vulnerable to extreme weather events.

The Results

Part of Help.NGO’s action has been providing new advanced drone technology to work alongside satellites, and survey the extent of damage done to Kenya’s landscape. Without this level of surveillance, the government would not be able to accurately implement aid to the regions and communities that are most in need. These drones have provided invaluable data for “recovery and reconstruction,” according to a Help NGO spokesperson.

The images and data from Help.NGO’s technology helped a multitude of missions, including organizing medical assistance. The Ministry of Health has immensely benefited from this information, and have been able to set up medical camps with the support of KRCS for continuity of services for the more than 4,000 people hurt by hospital closures.

In addition, WHO deployed more than 720 first responders to flood-affected zones to offer on-site recovery and attention, and attend to patients across Kenya’s 192 medical camps. The mission also distributed cholera kits and treated approximately 10,000 people.

The Future

Funding can change an individual’s life, like Felista, who has now been able to reopen her business and return her grandchildren to school. CERF provided her with KES 10,000- equivalent to $80, which has enabled her to pay school fees, buy food, and, significantly, the herbs and materials she needs to get her business up and running again. With the help of KRCS and Help NGO, financial aid and technology are reshaping Kenya, socially and physically, building a safer and more stable country for generations to come.

– Jaya Noonan

Jaya is based in London, UK and focuses on Good News and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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How Running Programs Are Reducing Poverty in Kenya

Poverty in KenyaRunning has always been a big part of life in Kenya, especially in rural areas, where long-distance running is just part of the culture. But over time, it has become more than just a sport. For many people, it has become a real opportunity and, in some cases, a way out of poverty in Kenya.

In places like Iten, often called the “home of champions,” runners train every day, hoping to compete at a higher level. What is different now is that there are more structured programs and training camps that actually support these athletes and give them a better chance of succeeding.

Running as a Pathway Out of Poverty

For many athletes, running starts simply. It is just part of daily life. But with the right support, it can lead to real opportunities. Training programs can provide coaching, meals and even housing, which helps take some of the financial pressure off.

One example is Kenya Experience, a program that allows runners to live and train in a high-performance environment alongside other athletes. It connects runners with experienced coaches, structured training and exposure to international competitions, which many would not otherwise have access to. Programs like this make a difference by allowing athletes to focus more on training and less on everyday struggles.

Over time, this can lead to opportunities such as competing in major races, earning prize money or even securing sponsorships.

Opportunities Beyond the Track

Success in running not only benefits the athlete. When runners begin to earn money from competitions or sponsorships, they often use that income to support their families. In many cases, one successful runner can help pay for school fees, housing and basic needs for several people.

So it is not just one person benefiting. It can impact an entire household and sometimes even an entire community. Running also creates opportunities beyond just competing.

Coaches, trainers and even local businesses benefit from the presence of training camps and athletes. Places like Iten have seen growth partly because of the running culture there.

Why Kenya Stands Out

Kenya has become one of the most successful countries in long-distance running and that success has helped build a system around the sport. Young athletes grow up seeing people from similar backgrounds succeed, which makes it feel more realistic. There are also more camps and programs now than before, which means more access to training and support.

Not everyone will become a professional runner, obviously, but the chance alone can change how people think about their future.

Looking Ahead

Running is not a complete solution to poverty in Kenya, but it does help create opportunities. For people in areas with limited job options, it can offer a different path. As more programs continue to grow and connect athletes to greater opportunities, running will likely remain an important part of economic growth in certain communities. It is not perfect, but for many people, it is a start.

– Aaron Scott

Aaron is based in Charlotte, NC, USA and focuses on Good News and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Faith-Based NGOs Reducing Poverty in Venezuela and Beyond

poverty in VenezuelaReducing poverty in Venezuela remains a challenge for local communities. More than 90% of the population lives below the poverty line and many families struggle to afford food and health care. High inflation has made basic goods increasingly unaffordable, worsening hunger and vulnerability. 

Faith-based organizations are stepping in to break this cycle of poverty and provide immediate relief and long-term support. Their work spans food distribution, education and income-generating initiatives. Th efforts of faith-based organizations address both urgent needs and structural challenges.

Expanding Aid To Remote Communities in Venezuela

In north-west Venezuela, religious sisters have expanded their outreach to remote villages. With new transport, they can now deliver food and medicine to isolated communities that previously had little access to essential supplies. They care for the sick and elderly, support homeless individuals and provide shelter for 30 orphaned or abandoned girls. 

The sisters also run a preschool for 80 children, offering education and meals that help reduce hunger during the school week. These services help break the cycle of poverty by improving access to food, child care and health care in historically underserved communities. Faith-based networks also play a broader humanitarian role across the country.

Church-linked organizations provide food assistance, nutrition support for children and pregnant women and water and sanitation programs to prevent illness. These initiatives help families meet basic needs and reduce the risk of malnutrition, particularly among vulnerable groups. Such interventions help stabilize households and prevent them from falling into extreme poverty.

Promoting Food Security and Income in Colombia

In Bogotá, Colombia, nuns partnered with educators to help women turn backyard spaces into small agricultural enterprises. Families grew vegetables to improve household nutrition and sold surplus produce to earn income. Many participants were grandmothers caring for children and the gardens gave them a source of income and greater financial independence.

This model addresses poverty through both food security and income generation. Entrepreneurship training further strengthened these efforts, with workshops covering financial management, marketing and customer relations. Within 18 months, more than 250 families were earning a livable wage through urban farming and small businesses.

Microloans also helped individuals launch enterprises, including food production and poultry farming. These initiatives show how faith-based collaboration can help communities move from short-term aid to sustainable livelihoods.

Supporting Long-Term Poverty Reduction in Kenya

In Mombasa, Kenya, a faith-run community center supports children living near a large slum, addressing challenges such as hunger, abandonment and lack of access to education. Its leaders also plan to expand the center into a full primary school and launch small-scale agricultural projects to improve food security.

In northern Kenya, religious sisters teach trade skills to young women to promote self-reliance and help them support their communities. This kind of skills training and education helps reduce poverty by improving long-term earning potential.

Across these regions, faith-based initiatives share common strategies. They provide immediate support such as meals, shelter and health care, while also promoting empowerment through education, entrepreneurship and skills training. By combining short-term relief with sustainable development, these faith-based organizations help communities build resilience against poverty.

Conclusion

From delivering food and reducing poverty in Venezuela to supporting women entrepreneurs in Colombia and teaching trade skills in Kenya, faith-based groups continue to play a crucial role in poverty alleviation. Their presence, volunteer networks and focus on community empowerment allow them to reach vulnerable populations and create pathways out of poverty.

– Demetra Mykoniatis

Demetra is based in London, UK and focuses on Good News and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Pixabay

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How Motorbikes Are Helping Fight Poverty in Kenya

fight Poverty in KenyaKenya is a nation of significant economic diversity, yet a large share of its population continues to live in poverty. More than 45% of Kenyans survive on $3 a day. According to the BBC, more than 26 million Kenyans were facing “extreme levels of hunger” in 2026. 

As a result, the U.N. World Food Program (WFP) states that 29% of children living in Kenya’s rural areas are stunted due to severe malnutrition. The country also faces a growing housing crisis, with an estimated 46,639 people in Kenya living without a stable shelter. However, a solution to Kenya’s poverty has emerged from an unlikely yet remarkable sector: the motor industry. 

Motorbikes are helping to fight poverty in Kenya by creating new economic opportunities across the country. Data from World Population Review shows that Kenya has more than one million motorbikes, surpassing other major nations such as Canada, with around 736,200 and South Africa, with 346,600.

Alleviating Youth Unemployment

Motorbikes play a critical role in alleviating youth unemployment. Kenya’s overall unemployment rate stands at approximately 12.7%, with young people accounting for 67% of that figure. From the age of 15, many young Kenyans struggle to secure stable forms of employment. For many young people, motorbikes are more than just transport; they allow riders to work independently and set their own hours, offering greater economic autonomy.

On average, young motorbike operators can earn at least $8.87 per day, providing a vital livelihood and reducing reliance on scarce formal employment opportunities. 

Supporting Small Businesses

Motorbikes also play a crucial role in supporting small businesses struggling to compete with larger companies. In Kenya, more than 7.4 million Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) operate, contributing to 40% of the country’s total GDP. Despite their importance, many of these businesses face significant challenges, including limited mobility and difficulty reaching customers. 

Motorbikes address these barriers by providing an affordable and reliable means of transport. Their efficiency has earned the trust of small business owners. Thus, by reducing logistical constraints, motorbikes enable local entrepreneurs to increase productivity and compete more effectively within Kenya’s growing economy. 

The Boda Girls Initiative

Motorbikes not only support individual livelihoods but also strengthen key public sectors. Within the humanitarian sector, the motorbike industry has created new opportunities to improve access to health care. In 2022, a group of women known as the Boda Girls emerged, using motorbikes to reach remote communities and support maternal care. Their work focuses on transporting expectant mothers to medical facilities for essential checkups and scans at no extra cost.

This intervention is particularly important given the scale of preventable infant deaths in Kenya. Poor living conditions and limited access to health care contribute to high child and maternal mortality rates. According to UNICEF, approximately 64,500 children in Kenya die each year before the age of 5 from preventable causes such as pneumonia and diarrhea.

In addition to providing medical support for pregnant mothers, protection for younger girls traveling to and from school is being strengthened through the use of boda boda motorbikes. Young girls often encounter predatory behavior and instances of assault during long journeys to school. The Boda Girls initiative addresses this problem by providing free transport for schoolgirls and ensuring a safe environment.

By supporting schoolgirls with safe transportation, the likelihood of them staying in education increases, improving their academic outcomes and long-term opportunities. This increased school attendance further equips girls with the skills and knowledge needed to improve their future earning potential, enabling them to break free from cycles of poverty.

Conclusion

The operation of these motorbikes in Kenya represents more than a simple means of transportation. They serve as a significant tool in the fight against poverty in Kenya, contributing both economically and socially to the communities they serve. By facilitating education, improving safety and supporting livelihoods, these motorbikes enhance individual potential and help reduce broader challenges associated with poverty.

– Sophia Lupo 

Sophia is based in London, UK and focuses on Good News and Technology for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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How Gamified Learning Is Expanding Access to Education in Kenya

Education in KenyaKenya continues to face significant challenges in ensuring quality education, particularly in low-income and rural communities. Despite high enrollment rates, learning outcomes remain uneven, with many students struggling to meet basic literacy and numeracy standards. Limited resources, teacher shortages and regional inequalities make quality education difficult for many children, highlighting the need for innovative, accessible learning solutions.

What Is Gamified Learning and Why It Matters

Gamified learning refers to the use of game elements, such as quizzes, rewards and progress tracking, to make learning more engaging and interactive. Instead of relying solely on traditional teaching methods, it introduces systems that allow learners to “level up,” monitor their progress and improve through practice rather than being penalized for mistakes.

This model also supports more flexible learning, enabling individuals to follow different paths and build skills at their own pace. By creating a more supportive and motivating environment, gamified learning encourages consistent participation. It helps learners stay engaged over time, especially in contexts where maintaining motivation is a challenge.

Expanding Access Through Digital and Gamified Learning in Kenya

Digital learning platforms are helping address long-standing education challenges in Kenya, particularly in areas where resources and classroom support remain limited. Research shows that gamification within e-learning platforms can improve motivation, engagement and overall learning outcomes, making it a valuable tool in education systems facing persistent learning gaps.

In Kenya, platforms such as Eneza Education use mobile-based learning to reach students who may lack access to traditional educational resources. Through SMS-based lessons, quizzes and interactive features, students can practice regularly and receive feedback, even with basic mobile phones. This approach is especially valuable in rural areas, where internet access and infrastructure are often limited.

At the same time, increasing mobile access is making these solutions more widely available. Smartphone penetration in Kenya has reached around 83.5%, enabling more students to access digital learning tools and educational content through their devices.

Beyond Eneza, the broader rise of education technology in Kenya is making learning more flexible and accessible. Digital tools allow students to learn at their own pace, revisit difficult topics and stay engaged through interactive content. By combining accessibility with engagement, gamified digital learning is helping reduce educational gaps and reach students who might otherwise be left behind.

From Learning to Economic Opportunity

Education is often the starting point for preventing long-term challenges, especially poverty. When people have access to quality learning, they are more likely to develop the skills needed to secure stable jobs, build businesses and improve their living conditions. In Kenya, this link between education and economic growth is already becoming clear.

According to the World Bank, the country has made significant progress through education reforms, reaching more than 16 million students across nearly 90,000 schools. These improvements have helped position Kenya among the top education performers in Eastern and Southern Africa. At the same time, the country’s economy is expected to grow by around 5% annually, highlighting the role of education in broader economic development.

Learning outcomes have also improved over time. For example, performance in subjects such as mathematics and languages has improved, while secondary school enrollment rose by more than 50% in the years before the pandemic. These developments matter because stronger learning outcomes are directly linked to better job opportunities and higher income potential.

Similarly, research shows that innovative approaches such as gamified learning can further strengthen this impact. Gamification is not just about engagement; it also helps build practical skills such as problem-solving, decision-making and digital literacy. In development contexts, these skills are essential for employment and entrepreneurship. 

Studies have shown that gamified learning environments can improve motivation, participation and knowledge retention, making education more effective overall.

Conclusion

As digital access continues to expand in Kenya, learning is no longer limited to traditional classrooms. Gamified learning, combined with mobile-based education, is creating more flexible and accessible ways for students to build skills and stay engaged. This is especially important in contexts where consistent access to quality education remains a challenge.

Together, these developments point to a clear pathway: education builds skills, skills create opportunities and opportunities help reduce poverty. By improving both access to education and the way people learn, Kenya is not only strengthening its education system but also creating new pathways for economic participation and long-term development.

– Elif Oktar

Elif is based in London, UK and focuses on Good News and Technology for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Poverty and Healthcare in Kenya

Healthcare and Poverty in KenyaThere are many health factors that contribute to the approximately 3.6 million orphaned children in Kenya: sickness, malnutrition, healthcare access and gender disparities. Poverty is woven through each of these areas that has significant effects on women and orphan children that reside in Kenya, leaving many vulnerable to developing health risk behaviors. The lack of accessible healthcare is clear in Kenya with the prevalence of diseases and many barriers that women and children face in order to be able to receive care. This has now also become a socioeconomic issue as the healthcare system shows extreme disparities within the major communities of Kenya.

Navigating HIV/AIDS in Poverty

HIV/AIDS affects 1.4 million people in Kenya, and 32% of orphanhood stems from HIV/AIDS. This happens due to how widespread HIV is within families, and how it will directly affect the families labor force and overall income. HIV also plays a major role in the health of parents in the family, causing deaths of either one or both parents, leaving more children orphaned. Poverty directly impacts access to antiviral drugs (ARVs) as
the citizens of Kenya rely heavily on donors. In January 2025, the U.S. shut down its USAID, reducing its programs to Kenya from 149 to 30. This massive exit from humanitarian aid has caused many healthcare workers to experience lay offs and forced healthcare facilities to close.

Vitamin Deficiencies in Pregnant Women

In Kenya, many pregnant women have vitamin deficiencies which are due to the limited amounts of nutritional products for maternal health along with overall nutritious foods required during pregnancy. In Kenya, 26% of pregnant women suffer from iron deficiency, creating an anemia rate of 42.6%. Kenya as a whole is facing a drought which is not only affecting their resources, but also the ability for families to have stability which leads to a lot of children in orphanages. Many of the orphans in Kenya have living relatives but widespread poverty leaves them without substantial resources, leading to children being placed in orphanages with the idea that they will live a better life.

Gender Disparities

Only 6% of women have titles to land in Kenya. Although it is a legal right for them to own property, societal norms of discrimination against women have long been the driving factor of them being unable to obtain and keep property. Kenyan women are at risk of being victims of land grabbing, usually in the way of their husbands running them off or abusing them causing them to have to flee. These women are put in vulnerable situations, feeling forced to abandon their children to orphanages, and pushes women to make less than ideal choices, such as prostitution. This can lead to a higher mortality rate, and ultimately leaves many children orphaned.

Available Resources

To help combat these issues, many organizations and campaigns, such as Stand for Her Land and Kenyan Peasants League have started garnering support and finding these depleted resources to help the community. Stand for Her Land has worked on advocacy for women of lesser status and income to exercise their rights on gaining legal access to land. Along with this, the Kenyan Peasants League gathers community-based funding to purchase land for women who had their lands usurped during major land-grabbing times.

Policy Action

The government has now also taken a stronger stance on these issues, one main way being by creating the National Care Reform Strategy for Children in Kenya. This specific act focuses a lot on family based care in society and ensuring that they are provided with the resources to continue in society. However, to break this cycle of poverty as a whole, national and international organizations need to prioritize things such as accessibility to healthcare, enforcing a woman’s right to own land, and overall strengthening child-welfare programs. Changes like these can likely help the livelihoods of not only the children in Kenya, but also the community that exists around them.

Conclusion

In summary, poverty in Kenya has shown to have lasting effects that have caused severe damage to especially the orphaned children of the country. Studies show that there will be long term effects on their overall developmental issues that will likely follow them into their adulthood. In order to properly address these matters, more accessible resources need to be implemented.

– Mansi Sampda, Jessica Norman, Melissa Kronblat and Kalea Mailangi

Mansi, Jessica, Melissa and Kalea are based in Bothell, WA, USA and focus on Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash

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Addressing the Hidden Poverty of Urban Slums in India and Kenya

Urban Slums in India and Kenya

Urban slums are home to millions of people in cities like Mumbai and Nairobi, where residents endure extreme poverty, overcrowded housing, poor sanitation and limited access to basic services. These informal settlements are often overlooked in poverty reduction efforts, leaving slum dwellers without essential support. Despite being central to the urban landscape, slums face challenges such as inadequate health care, limited educational opportunities and heightened vulnerability to environmental risks like flooding and landslides due to climate instability.

The Hidden Struggles of Slum Dwellers

In Dharavi, Mumbai, one of the largest slums in the world, is marked by overcrowding, poor infrastructure and a lack of sanitation. Families live in cramped, poorly constructed homes with minimal access to clean water and essential services. With little access to quality health care or education, slum residents are caught in a cycle of poverty that is hard to break. 

Kibera, another well-known slum in Nairobi, suffers from similar challenges. Despite being home to a large portion of the city’s population, these slums have inadequate access to safe water, sanitation and infrastructure and poor structural quality of housing. These communities are also disproportionately affected by climate instability. 

Without adequate drainage systems, flooding and other climate-related disasters worsen their already precarious living conditions. Residents also face constant threats of forced evictions, often stemming from insecure land tenure and government urban development plans, with many fearing displacement despite living on the land for decades. This problem is rooted in unequal land ownership and political-economic factors that prevent low-income populations from accessing land and securing decent housing.

Successful Policies and Initiatives

Despite these challenges, several successful initiatives have improved living conditions in urban slums in India and Kenya, thereby addressing poverty.

In India, the Rajiv Awas Yojana (RAY) program seeks to improve slum conditions by promoting inclusive and equitable cities where every citizen has access to basic civic infrastructure, social amenities and decent shelter. This initiative is part of India’s broader goal of creating a “Slum-Free India.” Similarly, the Dharavi Redevelopment Project in Mumbai aims to redevelop the Dharavi Notified Area by appointing developers. The project uses land as a resource to rehabilitate slum dwellers and permits an incentive Floor Space Index through tenements sold on the open market.

In Kenya, the Kenya Slum Upgrading Program (KENSUP) focuses on improving living conditions in informal settlements. KENSUP focuses on constructing housing and infrastructure, managing the environment and solid waste and addressing health challenges. One key success is the Kibera Slum Upgrading Initiative, implemented in collaboration with U.N.-HABITAT. The initiative aims to improve infrastructure through targeted interventions.

Local organizations in Kenya, such as Shining Hope for Communities (SHOFCO), have also been instrumental in improving access to health care, education and women’s empowerment programs. They are demonstrating how grassroots initiatives can complement government efforts. 

The Way Forward

For sustainable change, slum upgrading must be integrated into broader urban development plans. Governments need to implement policies that create economic opportunities, promote job growth and expand access to education for slum residents. Securing land tenure, investing in affordable housing and expanding public services such as health care and sanitation will provide a stronger foundation for residents to escape poverty.

Moreover, integrating slum improvement into urban planning requires addressing the socioeconomic needs of slum dwellers, including access to employment, education and basic services. It also requires tackling environmental challenges such as flooding and climate resilience. Governments should promote inclusivity by ensuring that slum residents have a voice in the planning process and that their specific needs are addressed. 

Building stronger partnerships among local governments, international organizations and community groups can help advance this vision.

Conclusion

Urban slums are home to millions of people living in extreme poverty. However, with targeted initiatives and community-driven solutions, significant progress is possible. Successful programs in India and Kenya show that improving living conditions in slums is achievable. 

By addressing both the physical and socioeconomic challenges of slums, stakeholders can begin to break the cycle of poverty in urban communities in India and Kenya and build more resilient and inclusive cities.

– Chris Tang

Chris is based in Beijing, China and focuses on Good News and Technology for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

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Improvement in the Treatment of TB in Kenya

TB in KenyaTuberculosis (TB) is a condition that mostly affects a person’s lungs but can also spread to other parts of the body. TB is caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which circulates through the air and spreads when inhaled. TB has been a persistent public health challenge in Kenya. According to the National Library of Medicine, TB is the fifth leading cause of death in the country. However, there has been a noticeable improvement in treating TB in Kenya. The director of the African region of the World Health Organization (WHO), Dr. Diallo Abdourahmane, stated that Kenya reduced TB cases by 41% and TB-related deaths by 60%. This progress is attributed to treatments such as preventive therapy, the BPaL regimen and digital adherence technologies.

Tuberculosis Preventive Treatment

One treatment used today is tuberculosis preventive treatment (TPT). Its goal is to prevent certain individuals from developing active TB by administering anti-tuberculosis medicine. The treatment destroys bacteria that have infected the body before they can harm organs or spread the illness. TPT specifically targets people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). HIV weakens the body’s ability to fight infections, making individuals more vulnerable to TB. It is recommended for HIV patients to undergo this treatment to reduce the chance of developing TB. The preferred course consists of three months (3HP), during which the antibiotics isoniazid and rifapentine are taken once a week. However, this prescription may interact with other medicines, so each patient’s case should be considered individually.

BPaL Regimen

The BPaL regimen is a treatment course lasting six months. The WHO has recommended it as an alternative to lengthier treatments. The regimen combines four antibiotic medications: bedaquiline, pretomanid, linezolid and moxifloxacin. It targets drug-resistant TB, a form of the disease that does not respond to some standard medications. This treatment is primarily for adult patients and teenagers older than 14. Studies have shown a success rate of 89%, making it more effective than previous regimens.

Digital Adherence Technology

TB treatment outcomes have also improved with digital adherence technology (DAT). DAT refers to digital tools that use technological devices to record a patient’s daily medication information. Examples include smart pill boxes and medication sleeves. Researchers believe DAT motivates individuals with TB to take their daily medication consistently.

A 2026 study evaluated whether certain digital interventions improved TB treatment outcomes. The study found that digital platforms such as Keheala reduced the percentage of failed TB treatments, supporting the use of digital tools in TB care. DAT offers several benefits. Patients can choose the most suitable time to take their medication, fitting it into their routine. Patients can receive SMS reminders. Health care providers can access their patients’ information, allowing them to monitor consistency and identify patients who need additional support.

Looking Ahead

Although TB remains a serious issue in Kenya, the treatments discussed have demonstrated their effectiveness. Kenya has earned recognition from the WHO for its progress. The country has set further goals to reduce TB death rates by 90% and TB cases by 80% by 2030. Efforts in Kenya to reduce the impact of TB continue to show measurable results.

– Lara Ibrahim

Lara is based in Créteil, France and focuses on Technology and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr