Oxfam

About Oxfam

Oxfam operates in Kenya to address poverty and inequality by collaborating with diverse partners. Our focus is on supporting the most vulnerable communities in the arid northern regions and the impoverished informal settlements of Nairobi.

Kenya faces significant poverty challenges, particularly in the northern pastoralist districts, where poverty rates can reach as high as 95% in some areas.

Rapid urbanization presents additional challenges, with projections indicating that by 2050, half of Kenya’s population will reside in urban areas. Currently, 34% of the 17 million Kenyans living in poverty are urban poor, predominantly residing in informal settlements.

Oxfam in Kenya

Since initiating operations in Kenya in 1963, Oxfam has:

– Delivered long-term development assistance and emergency relief, including support for refugees;
– Facilitated peace-building and conflict resolution among communities;
– Advocated for improved governance and fair access to essential services.
Our goal is to empower citizens to claim their rights while collaborating with government bodies, civil society organizations, community groups, international development agencies, and the private sector.

Supporting Dry-Land Communities

In Turkey and Major, we develop market-driven livelihood alternatives and complementary economic opportunities, assisting fishermen and traders.

Empowering Urban Communities

In Nairobi, we partner with local organizations to establish water kiosks, “bio-centers” that convert human waste into renewable energy and enhance sanitation, and recycling initiatives for unemployed youth. Our social protection programs provide financial support to impoverished families facing rising food and water costs, enabling them to initiate small businesses.

Peace-Building and Conflict Resolution

We strengthen community-led conflict resolution mechanisms to foster peaceful coexistence. Additionally, we engage in national policy advocacy through the National Steering Committee on Peace-Building and Conflict Management, reporting to the Office of the President.

Climate Action

We collaborate with local civil society to ensure government accountability in addressing climate change. Our initiatives also involve generating critical climate data to inform advocacy efforts at local and global levels.

Governance and Advocacy

Oxfam’s programs in Kenya prioritize governance reform at local, regional, and national levels by empowering marginalized groups to assert their rights. We ensure that our partners and the communities we serve have a platform to voice their concerns, while advocating for the government to fulfill its obligations to vulnerable Kenyans.