Following Kenya's first free election in 2002, it was expected that free press and open dissemination of information would become the norm. However, in 2005, Freedom House named Kenya as one of only two countries in the world whose media freedom ranking was shifted from "partly free" to "not free."

President Mwai Kibaki's administration has recently warred with the media and its drive to discuss controversial actions taken by the government. In May of 2006, Kenya's second largest newspaper and media outlet The Standard and Kenya Television Network were shutdown suddenly in a raid that involved the confiscation of equipment and the arrest of journalists. The apparent lack of free press severely inhibits Kenya's ability to quickly and effectively circulate desperately needed information, particularly to rural areas. Much of the country does not have access to electricity and useful outlets to receive information beyond government propaganda and word-of-mouth.

Compounding the issue is Kenya's government failure to provide basic health and social services. For instance, medical clinics often lack electricity, the ability to sterilize instruments, or transportation to move patients who need greater attention. Cultural taboos leave communities in the dark over issues such as maternal health and emergency preparation, limiting any spread of useful knowledge about family care that revolves around the subject of sex.

Without proper communication channels and resources available in impoverished communities, populations continue to be haunted by solvable problems. FSD's grassroots community development initiatives attempt to arm underserved groups with the information they need to make change for themselves and their families. Programs go directly into communities to offer the educational, legal, vocational, health, and psychosocial support that is desperately needed. These resources aim to empower communities to break cultural taboos, and expand resource potential and information sharing, while ensuring that project work is sustainable for the long term.

Read more about Community Development programs and opportunities initiated by our Community Partners in Kenya.

Click here to return back to the Community Development home page.