Country Profile

CRWRC has been working in Kenya since 1983. Until recently, Kenya had endured a corrupt 24-year dictatorship under former President Daniel Arap Moi. In December 2002, President Mwai Kibaki took office in Kenya, initiated impressive economic reform programs, introduction of free primary school, anti-corruption among others reforms.

However, the reforms are threatened by constitutional making process, a challenge that has divided the nation on ethnic lines, systematic corruption practices especially in the public service, 40% of unemployment, drought threatening the lives of over 3 million people, HIV Aids and other diseases, etc. This is in addition to having inherited monumental budget deficits and debts from Moi’s corrupt reign, this country is still far from economic revival. These challenges and others continue to hold down this country.

Currently, CRWRC has four full-time staff members who facilitate programs in Kenya. Kenya is also home to CRWRC's HIV/AIDS coordinator for the East/South Africa region. By working alongside local organizations, CRWRC is helping to reduce poverty, increase health standards, train church leaders, and give community members opportunities to more effectively run their small businesses and farms. For a full list of partners and specific programs, see below.

Kenya Fast Facts

Population:  36,913,721 (July 2007 est.)
Area Comparative: Slightly more than twice the size of Nevada
Literacy Rate: 85.1%
Life Expectancy: 55.31 years
Population below the poverty line:  50% (2000 est.)
Gross Domestic Product per capita:  $1,200 (2006 est.)
Religions: Protestant 45%, Roman Catholic 33%, Muslim 10%, indigenous beliefs 10%, other 2%
Languages:  English (official), Kiswahili (official), numerous indigenous languages

(From the World Factbook. Click here for more information on Kenya)

CRWRC Partners in Kenya

CRWRC Kenya is working with three partner agencies in community and church development.

ANGLICAN CHURCH OF KENYA (ACK)
CRWRC works with the ACK in a variety of ways across the country.

a) Through the ACK Headquarters, CRWRC is providing Bible-based stewardship and leadership training to church leaders.

b) Through ACK-KAMATAKIMO, CRWRC is reaching out to communities in the KAMATAKIMO region through it's five Dioceses in the Southern, Eastern and Coastal area of Kenya. This includes programs and projects to bring sufficient and safe water to communities, provide small livestock (including goats, chickens and beehives), food, uniforms, scholarships and other aid to HIV/AIDS orphans; and facilitate trainings to church leaders in outreach, pastoral care, leadership and stewardship skills and attitudes. The long term vision for KAMATAKIMO is to encourage "parished-based" integrated community development in the region.

c) Through ACK-Mount Kenya Christian Community Services, CRWRC is helping communities in Weruini, Kimbicho, Kambirwa, Mai Mahiu, and Ithanga. ACK-MKCCS brings community members together to form community committees. These committees can then learn about and develop a plan to address specific issues. For example, local farmers have come together to learn about soil and water conservation, organic farming, crop diversification, and using improved crop varieties. Similarly, a community water committee is focusing on improving water management. Other issues that are being addressed include planting trees, improving the environment, and gaining access to local markets.

d) Through the ACK-Pwani Christian Community Services or Pwani CCS, CRWRC is reaching out to extremely poverty stricken communities in the Coastal region of Kenya. ACK-Pwani CCS trains adult farmers and children/youth on biblical agricultural principles, soil and water conservation techniques, livestock management, beekeeping, and tree nurseries. In addition, ACK-Pwani CCS facilitates rainwater harvesting projects like the contruction of medium and large sized water pans, household water jars and drip irrigation methods to grow vegetables year round. Community members are being trained and empowered to oversee and manage this project for it's future sustainability.

e) Through ACK-Western Kenya Christian Community Services, CRWRC is reaching out to communities in Western Kenya. Each year, thousands of community members receive training on topics such as land preparation techniques, planting and crop management, indigenous foods, crop diversification, and crop storage. This program is especially important for families living with HIV/AIDS, because the increased food production provides nutrition and increased income to the struggling family. Similarly, ACK-WKCCS helps community members increase their income through bee-keeping, small loans, and business skills training. Other ACK-WKCCS programs focus on health. These include protecting springs and wells from contamination, vaccinating children, and training community members to be local health workers who can advise people about health and sanitation. Health programs also promote the prevention of HIV/AIDS and care for those who are infected.

PARTNERS WORLDWIDE
CRWRC works alongside Partners Worldwide to boost business development across Kenya. Programs include:

a) Amaranth - This program encourages farmers to plant and grow amaranth, which has a variety of uses including nutritional flour.

b) Christian Entrepreneurs Savings Society (CHESS) LTD – This program encourages new businesses by bringing business people together for fellowship and prayer. CHESS also provides mentorship, loans, business forums and conferences and lobbies and negotiates with Kenyan government on policies affecting the involved businesses.

c) Computer Training Program (CTC)– This program supports computer training centers across the country by providing them with donated computers. Currently, there are eight established and operational Computer training centers.

d) Full-Scale Business Trust (FBT) – This program helps medium and small businesses grow so that they can create jobs and income opportunities for the poor. Business people are trained in business management and given loans.

e) Kisayani Christian Community Development Program - The main role of this partner is to increase food security, health and water in the Kisayani area. During the past 3-4 years, CRWRC and Partners Worldwide have been working with KCCDP and 7 stakeholders to bring water to the community.

f) Kenya Investment Trust (KIT) – This program’s aim is to create jobs and income opportunities for the unemployed poor. To this end, KIT has developed programs to encourage small businesses through loans and fund raising events.

g) Kibera Savings and Credit Initiatives and PEMA - This Christian savings and credit business group is located in the Kibera slums and Eastlands of Nairobi. The poverty of these very poor residents is addressed through distribution of loans to participants in this program. Participants are trained in business management and savings and loans.

h) New Horizons Business Group (NHG) - This program trains community members in small business strategies such as: planning, leadership, management, and savings and loans.

i) Reformed Institute For Theological Training (RITT) of the Reformed Church of East Africa – This program is designed to form the faculty of Theology and Christian Education, build on staff and students gifts and talents, construct and equip a resource center, encourage congregational-based Bible learning and continuous education, enhance students’ evangelism and community service, and build on a friendly, effective, open, and welcoming administration. Groundbreaking for the new resource center was held in May of 2005. Construction of the library area began in August. Local parishes and church leaders are excited about this project and have contributed money and materials to its development.

REFORMED CHURCH OF EAST AFRICA (RCEA)
CRWRC works with the RCEA to transform communities in poverty. As a result, members from various ethnic groups and churches are meeting peacefully and developing programs for their respective communities. Five church and community leaders, who previously had not met under these terms, are discussing ways to bring about peace between their people. In addition, a number of agricultural programs have begun, including meetings of local farmers, irrigation construction, and crop management workshops. At the same time, church leaders are being trained in ways to more effectively serve their church and community members. A few of the most recent projects that have stemmed from this work are: brick making and selling, mosquito nets for children, and a care center for orphans. Lastly, HIV/AIDS awareness is being spread throughout communities through the training of community volunteers, counselors, and church leaders. Sensitizing the community to this sometimes-taboo issue has been the focus of these volunteers. More specific work includes the establishment of prevention from mother to child transmission (PMCTC) program, and the creation of a biblically based curriculum for 15 local schools.

Relief Projects

The Amaranth Project
Grain Amaranth project has entered its second year of funding from the CFGB.  Last year, the project objective was to assist  65 subsistence farmers begin to grow Amaranth both for consumption and for the sale of surplus crop.  The project was very successful in Uganda and Kenya. By the end of 2006 over 650 farmers were growing Amaranth.

The experimental test undertaken in Mali in an agricultural research station was not successful.  Therefore the focus of the Amaranth project will be in East Africa.

During 2007, the objective of the project is to consolidate the gains of the first year and introduce 250 farm families in semi-arid areas begin to grow and consume this extremely nutritious grain.  This focuses first on growing for self consumption.  Other objectives include persuading hospitals and schools to include Amaranth in their feeding programs and development of new Amaranth products for sale.


Mt Elgon Emergency Food Aid Project
Tribal clashes and political insecurity in the Mount Elgon District in western Kenya have caused over 8000 households to flee their villages and find shelter in neighbouring communities within the Mount Elgon and Bungoma Districts. There have been many reports of houses and small business being destroyed by arson, villagers have been murdered, and women and children have been raped and abused. Due to the continuing security threat in the Mount Elgon District, the number of displaced households has been increasing. Displaced people have lost their homes and their livelihoods. They are forced to depend on relatives or neighbours and on casual labour for all their needs.

In this project, CRWRC in partnership with the Kenyan Red Cross and the Reformed Church of East Africa will provide one crucial element of support.  Food, 800 Metric Tonnes of maize and 160 Metric Tonnes of beans, purchased in the region, will be provided to 4000 displaced households to help them get through this period of displacement with their dignity intact.

This project is funded by the Canadian Foodgrains Bank.  The food distribution will take place during the months of June – August 2007.  To read a story about this project, click on the link below:

CRWRC staff in Kenya

CRWRC would like to introduce its ESAMT-Kenya team:

Nema Aluku, CRWRC HIV/AIDS Response Coordinator for East/South Africa

Stephan Lutz, CRWRC Program Consultant

Stephan accepted a CRWRC Program Consultancy Position in February 2003 working mainly with church partners in the Southern, Eastern and Coastal area of Kenya. His passion is low-external input sustainable agriculture and food security, biblical environmental stewardship and networking for results with other like-minded individuals and organizations. He and his wife, Alicia, live in Nairobi with their two sons, Oliver and Noah.

Nyamuhu Kabogo, CRWRC Program Consultant

Nyamuhu is Kenyan and joined CRWRC January 2003. Prior to that she worked in South African region for 7 years in Small Medium and Micro Enterprise (SMME) Development in Lesotho and South Africa. Nyamuhu has 14 years experience in SMME development and has worked with UN projects within the International Labour Organisation, United Nations Development Programme, and the United Nations Volunteers and Non-governmental Organizations program. She holds a Bachelors Degree in Education.

Amy Thompson, Constituency Bridger
Amy joined CRWRC in July 2007 as a Constituency Bridger.  This means that her job is to link North Americans with CRWRC's ministries in Kenya.  This includes organizing volunteer opportunities and coordinating communication between groups. 

For more information about Amy's work, visit her blog.

Alida Fernhout, CRWRC International Staff Intern

Alida is using her nursing experience by being involved in community health in the Rift Valley Province.

Alida travelled to Nigeria a number of times as a volunteer teaching English and literacy, working in a clinic and implementing a Biosand water filter program. She also volunteered in Indonesia with CRWRC in July 2006 to help rebuild homes and as support and encouragement to the community.

Read Staff Newsletters from Kenya

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