By Njeri Irungu,
9 February 2026,
Nairobi, Kenya.
World Vision Kenya has launched its 2026–2030 National Strategy and WASH Business Plan, setting out an ambitious roadmap to improve the well-being of Kenya’s most vulnerable children through resilience building, inclusive development, strengthened child protection systems, and expanded access to essential services.
Unveiled during a high-level stakeholder forum in Nairobi, the five-year strategy aims 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 plan is the WASH Business Plan, titled Mapping the Blue Thread, which outlines World Vision Kenya’s commitment to deliver adaptive water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) solutions to 2.27 million children by 2030. The initiative also seeks to expand access to safe water for more than 1.2 million people in 18 counties through innovation, partnerships, and strengthened 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 is about shifting 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 achievements of World Vision Kenya’s 2021–2025 programme, 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. Over the five-year period, 1.27 million children participated in initiatives to end violence against children, while 202,174 parents and caregivers were trained in positive parenting approaches. Some 957,000 children were supported through spiritual nurture programmes.
These efforts contributed to measurable progress, including a reduction in reported violence against children from 42 per cent to 28 per cent, an increase in children who know where to report abuse from 43.8 per cent to 68.8 per cent, and a rise in faith leaders taking action for child well-being from 67 per cent to 92.6 per cent. Through advocacy and policy engagement, the organisation also reached 9.4 million children by strengthening systems and policies that safeguard children’s rights.
“These results show what is possible when communities, leaders, and partners work together to put children first. The new strategy builds on this foundation, responding to emerging risks while scaling approaches that have proven to work,” said Gilbert Kamanga, National Director of World Vision Kenya.
World Vision Kenya’s 2026–2030 Strategy aligns with Kenya Vision 2030, County Integrated Development Plans, and the Sustainable Development Goals, while responding to evolving challenges including climate change, economic pressures, demographic shifts, and widening inequality.
The strategy is anchored on three integrated priorities: resilience building and climate action; water, sanitation, hygiene and health; and child protection, participation, and access to education. Under the WASH and health pillar, the organisation plans to develop Safe, Accessible, Functional, Equitable, and Resilient (SAFER) water systems, targeting over 90 per cent functionality through professional maintenance and digital monitoring. Solar-powered systems and water harvesting technologies will be expanded in arid and semi-arid counties to improve reliability during climate shocks.
To address sanitation gaps and stimulate local economies, World Vision Kenya will establish more than 15 WASH Business Centres nationwide. These community-based hubs will provide commercial sanitation products and technical services, creating local employment while improving access to sustainable sanitation solutions.
Over the next five years, the organisation will prioritise 3.04 million children living in extreme poverty, 343,181 children with disabilities, and children in fragile contexts, including arid and semi-arid regions and urban informal settlements. Implementation will be delivered through 43 Area Programmes in partnership with county governments and local organisations, with a strong focus on gender equity. Women and girls are expected to make up 54 per cent of those reached.
World Vision Kenya emphasised that collaboration will be essential to achieving lasting impact. “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 Kenya’s children continue to experience multidimensional poverty. An estimated 1.1 million children remain malnourished, while 2.8 million are out of school. Recurrent droughts and floods displace about 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.
