Kenya

Turkana County has some of the highest levels of food insecurity and child malnutrition in Kenya largely due to the arid and semi-arid nature of the land, which accounts for more than 80% of the country’s total land mass. Around 29% of children here have stunted growth due to malnutrition.

Schools are very few and far between in this area, which make attending class difficult. Through our work in Early Childhood Development centres, Mary’s Meals has had a significant positive impact on reducing malnutrition among pre-school age children in Turkana.  It is estimated that 19% of primary aged children in Kenya are not attending school and, some 8% of children in the country are engaged in child labour – with this number rising to as much as 30% in areas such as Turkana County.

Life in Kenya

Kenya is located in East Africa.  The landscape varies from flat coastal land on the India Ocean, to high mountains and plateaus at the centre.  Neighbouring countries include Ethiopia, Somalia, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda.

Kenya gained independence from Great Britain on December 12, 1963 under the Kenya Independence Act.  Queen Elizabeth II remained Kenya’s head of state until the nation officially became a republic one year later.