Why Kenya?

The average annual salary in Busia is about 360,000 Kenyan Shillings (roughly $2,787), which comes to around 30,000 Ksh ($233) per month. For many families, even this level of income is out of reach. Steady employment often depends on access, opportunity, and systems affected by corruption—meaning countless hardworking people never receive the chance they deserve.

Kenya’s position on the Equator allows for two harvest seasons each year, a rhythm of planting and gathering that shapes daily life for much of the country. In Busia, about half of the population depends on agriculture for their income, and many more rely on small personal farms to feed their families or bridge gaps during times of scarcity. This way of life is deeply resilient, yet also highly vulnerable. Climate change brings unpredictable droughts and flooding, putting crops—and the families who depend on them—at continual risk.

Girls entering puberty in Kenya face a vulnerable turning point in their education and wellbeing. Because menstruation is often treated as something shameful or “dirty,” many girls receive little to no guidance on how to care for their bodies safely. Without access to sanitary products, they frequently rely on improvised materials like old rags, which increases the risk of infection and illness. The consequences reach far beyond health: many girls miss a full week of school every month, causing them to fall behind academically and, eventually, drop out. In the most desperate situations, some turn to unsafe and exploitative means or even prostitution to afford basic menstrual supplies, placing them at even greater risk.

Approximately 27% of children in Kenya leave primary school before completion, and secondary school dropout rates climb to around 30%. More than 1.2 million school‑aged children are out of school simply because their families cannot afford the costs associated with education. When children are forced to step away from learning, the cycle of poverty tightens—limiting future opportunities and making it harder for families and communities to rise out of hardship.

Systemic corruption in Kenya often diverts resources away from the people who need them most, deepening hardship for families already facing significant challenges. Despite being the dominant economy in East Africa—and home to Nairobi, one of the wealthiest cities on the continent—Kenya was still ranked the 47th poorest country in the world in 2025. This contrast highlights a painful reality: national growth does not always reach the communities most affected by poverty. For places like Busia, the gap between potential and lived experience remains wide, making grassroots support and community‑centered partnerships essential for real, lasting change.

Consider It Joy is rooted in a deep Christian faith that calls us to serve, encourage, and walk alongside the people of Kenya in tangible, meaningful ways. While 85% of Kenyans identify as Christian, many communities still face significant challenges that make daily life difficult. Our ministry is not only about nurturing spiritual growth—it is about living out the gospel through action, compassion, and presence. We seek to be the hands and feet of Jesus to our brothers and sisters in need, offering support that reflects His love in both word and deed.

James 2:14-17 "What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead."