Welcome to USAID/Kenya

The USAID/Kenya program is one of the most mature development programs in Africa.  The U.S.-Kenya economic cooperation goes as far back as Kenya’s pre-independence in the late 1950s and early 1960s.  During this period, the U.S. assistance came in the form of the Kennedy-Mboya airlift of young Kenyans.  The support provided training opportunity in the United States for the challenging tasks of self-government and leadership.  Over 600 Kenyans benefited from the cooperation.  The United States also assisted Kenya in building the University of East Africa which later developed into the University of Nairobi.

The peaceful and democratic transition on December 27, 2002, provides a unique historical moment for Kenya with President Moi stepping down and when his KANU party lost the election after 24 years in power.  The new government led by President Mwai Kibaki presents an unparalleled opportunity for renewing closer USAID-Kenya economic cooperation.  Chief among the U.S.-Kenya shared development goals are promoting broad-based economic growth and raising the living standards of the poor, strengthening democratic institutions, the rule of law, and accountability, helping to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS, promoting family planning and improving public health care, and fostering better management of Kenya’s natural resources.

USAID is proud to have a role in the daily endeavors that further these development goals.  From this website, I am pleased to offer you a snapshot of several of these endeavors.  I am also happy to share with you some of the fruit of USAID-Kenya development cooperation in the form of successful development activities that affect the lives of many ordinary Kenyans