Kenya
In Kenya, HI is unlocking opportunities for young people with disabilities in five counties and improving access to healthcare, education, and employment for people with disabilities in refugee camps.
Refugees in Dadaab camp, Humanity & Inclusion Kenya | © B. Blondel / HI
Our actions
In Kenya, HI is unlocking opportunities for young people with disabilities in five counties and improving access to healthcare, education, and employment for people with disabilities in refugee camps.
HI strengthens the inclusion, participation, and protection of forcibly displaced persons and stateless individuals in Kakuma refugee camp, with a particular focus on persons with disabilities, older persons, and other persons with specific needs. The organization seeks to improve access to inclusive services, including physical and functional rehabilitation, and mental health and psychosocial support, while also promoting disability inclusion within local governance and humanitarian systems. HI supports efforts to ensure that both refugee and host communities benefit from more accessible and coordinated services.
The organization also aims to strengthen inclusive education in Kakuma by improving teachers’ capacity on inclusive learning. Insights into these activities will inform revisions to national policy on learners and trainees with disabilities, supporting more inclusive teaching practices at scale.
HI promotes economic empowerment and inclusion of young people with disabilities by supporting their access to employment, entrepreneurship, and the local labor market. The organization targets young people, with a strong focus on women and girls with disabilities, who face additional barriers to education and economic participation. HI supports tailored pathways that combine vocational, technical, and entrepreneurial training aligned with labor market needs, along with support for micro-enterprise development and transitions into work through internships and job placements. The program also promotes innovation in areas such as digital accessibility and assistive technologies, contributing to greater financial inclusion and long-term economic independence.
- Number of HI staff: 55
- People directly supported by HI in 2025: 40 091 people
- People indirectly supported by HI in 2025: 200 455 people
- Program launch date: 1992
Areas of intervention
Latest stories
In Simon's shoes: the dreams and struggles of a young volunteer
In the Kakuma refugee camp, Simon, an energetic and intrepid teenager with albinism, is actively involved in raising awareness among his peers and bringing life to his school.
Poni Anet: mother, refugee and business owner
Poni Anet Wori’s entrepreneurial spirit knows no bounds. She opened a shop in Kalobeyei and, after receiving training and economic support, her business is now flourishing.
Promoting a more inclusive working environment in Kakuma
In Kakuma refugee camp, refugees and Kenyans run a number of micro-enterprises. HI and its partners are helping them promote and develop their businesses.
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Background
Kenya, a lower-middle-income country and one of the largest refugee-hosting states in Africa, continues to face significant humanitarian challenges driven by recurrent climate shocks, food insecurity, and structural inequalities. Repeated droughts and floods, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions, have severely affected agricultural production, water availability, and livelihoods, increasing the risk of malnutrition and deepening poverty. These climate-related crises are compounded by high inequality and limited access to essential services such as healthcare, education, and social protection, especially for affected populations.
The country hosts a large and protracted refugee population, mainly from Somalia and South Sudan, with many living in long-established camps Dadaab and Kakuma. Humanitarian needs remain high, while funding constraints have reduced food assistance and placed additional pressure on already limited basic services, worsening living conditions for both refugees and host communities.
People with disabilities and other at-risk groups are disproportionately affected by these overlapping crises. They often face significant barriers to accessing healthcare, rehabilitation, education, and livelihoods, and are at higher risk of exclusion in both refugee and host community settings. In Kenya, persons with disabilities also face significant social and economic exclusion due to stigma, discrimination, and limited access to employment. As a result, many remain in poverty, while administrative barriers also prevent them from accessing their legal rights and economic benefits.
- Population: 54.27 million
- HDI: 0.628 (2023)
- GDP: USD 147.26 billion
- GDP per capita: USD 2,710
