WORLD VISION KENYA UNVEILS AMBITIOUS 2026–2030 STRATEGY TO REACH 13.3 MILLION CHILDREN.

BY NJOKI KARANJA,

Nairobi, Kenya – February 9, 2026.

World Vision Kenya has launched its 2026–2030 National Strategy alongside a new Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Business Plan, setting out an ambitious roadmap to improve the well-being of 13.3 million vulnerable children across 33 counties over the next five years.

The strategy was unveiled during a high-level stakeholder forum in Nairobi and underscores the organisation’s long-term commitment to resilience building, inclusive development, strengthened child protection systems and expanded access to essential services, including safe water, sanitation, hygiene and health.

At the heart of the plan is a deliberate focus on children living in extreme poverty, children with disabilities, and those affected by climate shocks, violence and social exclusion. Implementation will be delivered through 43 Area Programmes nationwide, in close collaboration with county governments and local partners.

“This strategy is about shifting from short-term interventions to lasting systems that protect children and strengthen communities,” said World Vision Kenya Board Chairperson David Githanga. “Our goal to reach 13.3 million children across 33 counties reflects our commitment to prioritising those who are most at risk.”

Complementing the national strategy is World Vision Kenya’s WASH Business Plan, dubbed Mapping the Blue Thread, which outlines plans to deliver adaptive WASH solutions to 2.27 million children with direct services by 2030. The plan also aims to expand access to safe water for more than 1.2 million people in 18 counties through innovation, partnerships and systems strengthening.

Under the WASH plan, the organisation will move beyond traditional infrastructure to develop Safe, Accessible, Functional, Equitable and Resilient (SAFER) water systems, targeting over 90 per cent functionality through professionalised maintenance and digital monitoring. In arid and semi-arid areas, solar-powered water systems and water harvesting technologies will be integrated to enhance reliability amid climate shocks.

World Vision Kenya also plans to establish more than 15 WASH Business Centers countrywide—community-based hubs that will provide sanitation products and technical services, stimulate local economies and create jobs while improving access to sustainable sanitation solutions.

The new strategy builds on the organisation’s 2021–2025 achievements, during which World Vision Kenya invested USD 432 million and reached more than 4.5 million people across 37 counties, including 2.6 million children directly. Key outcomes included a significant reduction in reported violence against children, increased awareness of reporting mechanisms, and stronger engagement by faith leaders in promoting child well-being.

“These results show what is possible when communities, leaders and partners work together to put children first,” said World Vision Kenya National Director Gilbert Kamanga. “The new strategy responds to emerging risks while scaling up approaches that have proven to work.”

Anchored on three integrated development priorities—resilience building and climate action, WASH and health, and child protection, participation and access to education—the strategy aligns with Kenya Vision 2030, County Integrated Development Plans and the Sustainable Development Goals.

Despite Kenya’s economic progress, World Vision Kenya noted that nearly half of the country’s children still experience multidimensional poverty, with malnutrition, school exclusion and climate-related displacement remaining persistent challenges.

“No single organisation can transform children’s lives alone,” Kamanga said. “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.”

World Vision Kenya emphasised that its ultimate ambition is to strengthen systems and empower communities to sustain progress beyond project cycles. “When a child turns on a tap in 2030,” Kamanga added, “the water should be there, it should be safe, and it should last.”