where we work

Informal Settlements

Communities that typically emerge on the outskirts of major towns and cities when people build and occupy homes on land they do not own. Though informal settlements vary widely, they generally: 

  • Lack basic services and infrastructure (e.g., electricity, sewered wastewater systems) 
  • Suffer from high rates of poverty 
  • Have limited access to quality health care and education 
Kajiado
Kiambu
Kilifi
kisumu
nakuru
machakos
Mombasa
Nairobi

Counties where we work

Kajiado
Kiambu
Kilifi
Kisumu

Machakos
Mombasa
Nakuru
Nairobi

Kajiado
Kiambu
Kilifi
Kisumu
Machakos
Mombasa
Nairobi
Nakuru


Why Informal Settlements?

Approximately 1 in 8 people live in informal settlements worldwide, and this proportion is only expected to grow alongside rapid urbanization. 

In these communities, infectious diseases spread rapidly, malnutrition limits children’s abilities to reach their full potential, and poor sanitation contributes to thousands of preventable deaths every year. Gender inequality, limited access to education and economic opportunities, and unemployment further impede individual and community progress. 

Despite these challenges, residents of informal settlements are resilient, entrepreneurial, and teeming with energy to drive positive change and sustainable development in their communities and around the world.

Tabitha Festo, a nurse living in an informal settlement, co-founded our organization out of deep love for her community, and we strive to continue her legacy of working alongside community members to identify and meet essential needs – this commitment is in our DNA and fuels our work. 

Interested in learning more about
what we do in informal settlements?

Kajiado County

Located in western Kenya, Kajiado County has informal settlements concentrated near its two urban centers: Ongata Rongai and Kajiado town.

CFK Africa began work in Kajiado County in 2022. We have supported the following interventions and are currently working with community members to develop additional health, education, and economic development programs.

  • Secondary school scholarships

KIAMBU COUNTY

With an average urbanization rate of over 3%, Kiambu County is the second-most populated county in Kenya and is quickly becoming one of the most urbanized areas in the country, which has led to the proliferation of informal settlements.

CFK Africa began work in Kiambu County in 2021. We have supported the following interventions and are currently working with community members to develop additional health, education, and economic development programs.

  • COVID-19 vaccine distribution in partnership with the Ministry of Health
  • Water, sanitation, and hygiene (WaSH)
  • Secondary school scholarships

KILIFI COUNTY

Kilifi County is located along the Kenyan coast, and most of its population resides in rural or peri-urban areas. The county’s informal settlements are largely aggregated around Malindi and Kilifi town, which are the area’s largest urban centers.

CFK Africa began work in Kilifi County in 2022. We have supported the following interventions and are currently working with community members to develop additional health, education, and economic development programs.

  • Secondary school scholarships

KISUMU COUNTY

Kisumu County is home to the third-largest city in Kenya and has a coastline on Lake Victoria. Estimates indicate that over 40% of people living in Kisumu city reside in informal settlements surrounding the area.

CFK Africa began work in Kisumu County in 2022. We have supported the following interventions and are currently working with community members to develop additional health, education, and economic development programs.

  • Secondary school scholarships

Nakuru County

Nakuru County is one of the fastest-growing areas in Kenya. Due to this rapid urbanization, the county has seen a proliferation of informal settlements, especially surrounding its two major urban centers of Nakuru and Naivasha.

CFK Africa began work in Nakuru County in 2022. We have supported the following interventions and are currently working with community members to develop additional health, education, and economic development programs.

  • Secondary school scholarships
  • Participated on the writing team of the county’s 2022-2027 Community Health Services Strategy

MACHAKOS COUNTY

Machakos County is home to one of the oldest towns in Kenya, and informal settlements in the county are largely concentrated around the rapidly growing towns of Machakos and Mavoko.

CFK Africa began work in Machakos County in 2022. We have supported the following interventions and are currently working with community members to develop additional health, education, and economic development programs.

  • Secondary school scholarships

Mombasa County

Located along the coast, Mombasa is a popular holiday destination and the second-most urbanized county in Kenya. Studies estimate that the county is home to more than 70 informal settlements.

CFK Africa began work in Mombasa County in 2022. We have supported the following interventions and are currently working with community members to develop additional health, education, and economic development programs.

  • Secondary school scholarships

Nairobi County

Nairobi is the most urbanized county in Kenya and grows at a rate of approximately 4% per year. Over half of the county’s population lives in informal settlements, such as Kibera, which is one of the largest informal settlements in Africa.

Founded in Kibera in 2001, CFK Africa remains headquartered in Nairobi and works with community members to operate the following interventions:

  • CFK Africa Headquarters
  • Tabitha Medical Clinic
  • Tabitha Maternity Home
  • Young Health and Wellness Centre
  • Education & Livelihoods programming
  • Community health outreach programming
  • Nutrition and water, sanitation, and hygiene (WaSH) services