World Vision Kenya Unveils 2026–2030 National Strategy, Targets 13.3 Million Children Nationwide

By James Nyaigoti

World Vision Kenya has launched its 2026–2030 National Strategy alongside a new Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Business Plan, marking a renewed five-year commitment to improving the lives of Kenya’s most vulnerable children through resilience building, inclusive development, strengthened child protection systems and expanded access to essential services.

The strategy was unveiled at a high-level stakeholder forum in Nairobi and outlines an ambitious plan to reach 13.3 million children across 33 counties through direct programming, strategic partnerships and evidence-based advocacy. Priority will be given to children living in extreme poverty, children with disabilities, and those affected by climate shocks, violence and social exclusion.

At the centre of the rollout is the WASH Business Plan, dubbed “Mapping the Blue Thread”, which will guide World Vision Kenya’s WASH investments from 2026 to 2030. The plan aims to provide 2.27 million children with direct WASH services by 2030 and expand access to safe water for more than 1.2 million people in 18 counties, leveraging innovation, partnerships and stronger local systems.

“With an ambitious goal to reach 13.3 million children across 33 counties, prioritising those living in extreme poverty and children with disabilities, this strategy represents a deliberate shift from short-term interventions to lasting systems that protect children and strengthen communities,” said David Githanga, Board Chairperson of World Vision Kenya.

The new strategy builds on the gains of World Vision Kenya’s 2021–2025 Strategy, during which the organisation invested USD 432 million and reached more than 4.5 million people across 37 counties, including 2.6 million children directly.

Key achievements over the past five years include:

1.27 million children engaged in initiatives to end violence against children 202,174 parents and caregivers trained in positive parenting approaches

957,000 children supported through spiritual nurture programmes

A reduction in reported violence against children from 42% to 28%, An increase in children who know where to report abuse from 43.8% to 68.8%,

Growth in faith leaders taking action for child well-being from 67% to 92.6%.

Through advocacy and policy engagement, the organisation also indirectly reached 9.4 million children, contributing to stronger child protection systems and policies nationwide.

“These results demonstrate what is possible when communities, leaders and partners work together to put children first. The new strategy builds on this strong foundation, responding to emerging risks while scaling approaches that are proven to work,” said Gilbert Kamanga, National Director of World Vision Kenya.

A Strategy for a Changing Kenya

Kenya’s development landscape continues to evolve amid climate change, economic pressures, demographic shifts and widening inequality. World Vision Kenya’s 2026–2030 Strategy is aligned with Kenya Vision 2030, County Integrated Development Plans and the Sustainable Development Goals, while remaining grounded in the lived realities of vulnerable communities.

The strategy is anchored on three integrated development priorities:

1. Resilience Building, Environment and Climate Change

This pillar focuses on strengthening household and community resilience through climate-smart agriculture, economic empowerment, natural resource restoration and disaster risk management, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions.

2. Water, Sanitation, Hygiene and Health (WASH & Health)

World Vision Kenya will expand access to safe water, improved sanitation, hygiene promotion and essential primary healthcare services to reduce preventable disease and improve child survival.

Under the WASH Business Plan, the organisation will move beyond traditional infrastructure delivery to develop Safe, Accessible, Functional, Equitable and Resilient (SAFER) water systems, targeting over 90 per cent functionality through professionalised maintenance and digital monitoring. Solar-powered water systems and water harvesting technologies will be prioritised in arid and semi-arid counties to enhance reliability during climate shocks.

To address sanitation gaps and stimulate local economies, World Vision Kenya plans to establish more than 15 WASH Business Centres countrywide. These community-based one-stop hubs will increase access to sanitation and hygiene products—such as latrine slabs, soap and water tanks—while providing technical services and creating local jobs.

3. Child Protection, Participation and Access to Education

The strategy will strengthen child protection systems, prevent violence against children, improve access to quality education and promote meaningful participation of children and young people in decisions that affect their lives.

Reaching the Most Vulnerable

Over the next five years, World Vision Kenya will prioritise support for:

3.04 million children living in extreme poverty

343,181 children with disabilities

Children in fragile contexts, including arid and semi-arid regions and urban informal settlements

Implementation will be delivered through 43 Area Programmes nationwide, working closely with county governments and local partners to ensure sustainable, community-led solutions. Gender equity remains central to the approach, with 54 per cent of people reached expected to be female.

A Call to Collective Action

World Vision Kenya emphasised that achieving lasting change for children will require collective effort and shared responsibility.

“No single organisation can transform children’s lives alone. This strategy is an invitation to government, partners, faith leaders and communities to work together to build a Kenya where every child is safe, educated, healthy and able to thrive,” Kamanga said.

Despite steady economic growth, 47 per cent of Kenyan children still experience multidimensional poverty, with 1.1 million children malnourished and 2.8 million out of school. Recurrent droughts and floods continue to displace an estimated 300,000 children each year, underscoring the need for integrated solutions that link child protection, education, climate resilience, health and WASH.

“Our ambition is not just to deliver services, but to strengthen systems and empower communities so that progress is sustainable. When a child turns on a tap in 2030, the water should be there, it should be safe, and it should last,” Kamanga added.