Kenya Facts

Jambo! That’s how you say “hello” in Swahili, one of the official languages in Kenya. This beautiful country in Africa is known for its wildlife, including lions, leopards and elephants (oh my!). Learn more facts about Kenya below.

five Facts About Kenya

Here are five fun facts about Kenya:

  1. Kenya is home to the renowned Maasai Mara National Reserve, which features so many incredible species of animals.
  2. Mount Kenya is Africa’s second-highest mountain and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
  3. The first African woman to win a Nobel Peace Prize, Wangari Maathai, is from Kenya.
  4. While Swahili and English are the two official languages of Kenya, there are over 60 languages spoken throughout the country.
  5. Any guesses on which animal is Kenya’s national animal? If you guessed the lion, you’re correct!

Where is Kenya?

Kenya is a country in East Africa that shares borders with Ethiopia, Somalia, Tanzania, Uganda, Sudan and the Indian Ocean.

Key Challenges in Kenya & Our Response

Kenya is a land of adventure, a perfect place to visit if you dream of going on safari. However, Kenya is also home to thousands of children living in devastating poverty.

Lack of Nutrition & Medical Care Leaves Babies at Risk

The newest data shows that the mortality rate for infants in Kenya is 30.5 deaths per 1,000 live births. While this number has been consistently decreasing over time, this is still incredibly high. When compared to the U.S. mortality rate, which is 5.6 deaths per 1,000 live births, you can see how devastatingly high the rate truly is.

In Kenya, many of the causes of death in these little ones can be traced back to poverty. For example, many babies die from preventable diseases like pneumonia because their families couldn’t afford treatment. Others suffer serious malnutrition from hunger.

Our Response: Offering Care to Moms & Babies

We partner with churches throughout Kenya to offer care to moms and babies in need through our Survival programs. Through these programs, we offer important support like prenatal vitamins, nutritious food, medical checkups and parenting classes.

We provide hands-on care to moms and babies throughout the first year of the child’s life. Once they reach this important milestone, they then get to be sponsored by someone like you!

Natural Disasters Leave Children Dangerously Hungry

Kenya often faces devastating natural disasters like droughts. These serious droughts leave children and families without food, clean water and other essentials. This puts children at risk of malnutrition, which damages their physical and mental growth.

Unfortunately, families struggling in poverty can’t afford day-to-day basics, much less emergency supplies.

Our Response: Providing Disaster Relief to Children in Need

Through our Disaster Relief Fund (DRF), we provide children and families with emergency food and water, temporary shelters, counseling, medical care and more to ease the impact of disaster. This support keeps families on track toward leaving poverty behind, despite their current circumstances.

A young Masai boy smiles in the desert landscape of Kenya

A young Maasai boy smiles in the desert landscape of Kenya.

Caption
Children smile while playing jump rope at their child development center playground

Children smile while playing jump rope at their child development center playground.

Caption
A woman stands inside the remains of her home after a flood

A woman stands inside the remains of her home after a flood.

Caption
Children sit against the wall of a home

Children sit against the wall of a home.

Caption
A young boy stands in a grassy field with mountains behind him

A young boy stands in a grassy field with mountains behind him.

Caption
A group of women sit together and smile

A group of women sit together and smile.

Caption
A young child sleeps peacefully on top of an empty burlap sack

A young child sleeps peacefully on top of an empty burlap sack.

Caption
A group of children smile and run at their child development center

A group of children smile and run at their child development center.

Caption

Our Impact in Kenya

Compassion has served children and families living in poverty throughout Kenya for over four decades. In this time, we’ve helped release thousands of children from poverty in Jesus’ name through child sponsorship.

134,585

children served (and counting).

473

churches serving.

43

years serving.

Inspiring Kenyan Rescues Pregnant Girls in Crisis

Maureen grew up in poverty. But at her Compassion center, she experienced hope that she knew she had to share with others. Now, Maureen runs a nonprofit that rescues pregnant girls living in poverty, giving them hope for a brighter future.

See Story
Maisha Builds a Strong Future With a Strong Mind

Maisha’s family couldn’t afford a safe home, let alone an education for him. But through his local Compassion center, Maisha received an education and is now a professional mason, building homes for those in his community.

See Story

How You Can Help Vulnerable Children in Kenya

You can join Compassion’s fight against child poverty in Kenya in three key ways:

  • Pray: Jeremiah 33:3 tells us that if we call on God, he will answer us. When we lift children living in poverty up in prayer, God hears us, and we can trust he's working on their behalf. Join us in praying daily for children living in poverty by becoming a prayer partner.
  • Donate: Children living in poverty face many challenges, from a lack of medical care to dangerous living conditions. You can provide immediate support by donating to fulfill a right-now need.
  • Sponsor a Child: By sponsoring a child, you empower a local church to meet the critical needs of a child's body, mind and spirit as they journey out of poverty. Through sponsorship, you'll help deliver medical care, hygiene training, education, malnutrition monitoring and so much more to a child in need. But most importantly, you'll help introduce them to the hope of the gospel, which changes everything.
Sponsor a Child in Kenya