Our Mission
At KDEF, we believe access to clean water, sanitation, education, and hygiene is a fundamental human right. Our mission is to drive lasting, positive change in the communities we serve by providing sustainable, community-driven solutions that enhance health, education, and the overall quality of life for all.
What We Do
Every day, thousands of people in Northern Kenya face the harsh realities of water scarcity, inadequate sanitation, limited access to education, and poor hygiene practices.
Every day, thousands of people in Northern Kenya face the harsh realities of water scarcity, inadequate sanitation, limited access to education, and poor hygiene practices.
These challenges contribute to preventable diseases, undermine social and economic development, and exacerbate poverty. At KDEF, we are committed to tackling these issues head-on with innovative, long-term solutions.
Our comprehensive approach goes beyond immediate relief—it’s about addressing the root causes of these crises. We combine community engagement with sustainable programs that lead to meaningful, lasting change.
In a remote, rural and ultra-poor region of Northern Kenya, we’re answering the call.
The Kenya Drylands Education Fund (KDEF) works to expand access to education for students in Marsabit and Samburu Counties. By engaging deeply with communities—listening and learning—we have developed a holistic approach that helps families to overcome the cultural and economic barriers that have traditionally led to school enrollment rates as low as 30 percent.
Less than nine percent of residents here obtain a high-school education, and only 26 percent can read and write. This keeps families locked in generational poverty.
KDEF breaks this cycle through a student-responsive, multi-faceted model we call EnART: Enrollment, Attendance, Retention and Transition. Click on the links above to learn more about how our EnART model improves access to education and lifts up students, families and communities in the drylands of Northern Kenya.
Turning Dreams into Reality
In Kenya’s drylands, bright but underprivileged students are rewriting their futures through KDEF’s Scholarship Program.
With backpacks full of dreams and hearts brimming with hope, they embark on their high school journey—many for the first time away from home.
KDEF doesn’t just fund education; it fuels ambition, resilience, and a brighter tomorrow. Because every dream deserves a chance—and KDEF makes it happen.
Places We Work
KDEF Updates
Support Our Cause
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Get in Touch with KDEF
Whether you have questions about our programs, want to get involved, or are looking for ways to support our mission, KDEF is here to connect with you.
