Our work in Kenya

The Fred Hollows Foundation has been working in Kenya since 2004, helping to end avoidable blindness by expanding access to eye care, strengthening health systems and reaching people in some of the country's most remote communities.

About Kenya

Kenya is East Africa's largest economy and home to more than 58 million people. While the country has made significant progress in health and development, access to eye care remains out of reach for many people, particularly those living in rural and remote areas.

An estimated 88% of blindness in Kenya is avoidable, yet many people still cannot access the treatment they need. Long distances to health facilities, shortages of specialist services and financial barriers mean conditions like cataract, trachoma and uncorrected refractive error often go untreated.

Since 2004, The Fred Hollows Foundation has partnered with government, health providers and local communities to strengthen eye health services across Kenya so more people can access affordable, quality care closer to home.

The eye health challenge in Kenya

Many people in Kenya are living with vision loss that could be prevented or treated.

Avoidable blindness

88% of blindness in Kenya is avoidable, yet many people still do not have access to timely eye care.

Rural communities left behind

Around 74% of Kenyans live in rural areas where specialist eye health services can be difficult to access.

Women face greater barriers

Women are more likely to experience blindness than men and often face additional barriers to treatment.

The impact on families

When someone loses their sight, family members, often women and girls, may leave school or work to become carers.

Our approach to eye health in Kenya

Since 2004, The Fred Hollows Foundation has worked alongside national and county governments to strengthen eye health services, increase access to treatment and build sustainable systems that can serve future generations. Our work focuses on four key levers for long-term change:

Reaching underserved communities

Supporting outreach programs, screenings and referral pathways so people can access care closer to home.

Strengthening the eye health workforce

Training community health workers, surgeons, educators and clinic staff to deliver quality eye care services.

Eliminating avoidable blindness

Increasing access to cataract surgery, trachoma treatment, diabetic retinopathy services and glasses.

Building stronger health systems

Supporting governments and health facilities to plan, deliver and sustain eye care services across Kenya.

Our partnership with communities

Many people living with vision loss in Kenya are first identified by trained community health workers who connect them with care.

These frontline workers play a critical role in reaching remote communities, identifying eye conditions early and helping people navigate the journey from screening to treatment.

In 2025 alone, more than 2,500 community health workers were trained, helping thousands of people access sight-saving care.

"It’s so satisfying helping people see better and knowing that in a day I’ve improved someone’s life."

— Esther Koli Philip, Optician, Kilifi South Community Health Promotion Fund

A brighter future for Manyeso’s children

For years, Manyeso worried about the future of her four children, Emmanuel, Furaha, Purity and Emily, who were all born with cataracts.

Living in rural Kilifi County, specialist eye care felt out of reach. As their vision worsened, school became harder and opportunities began slipping away.

Everything changed when a community health worker supported by The Fred Hollows Foundation connected the family with care.

After surgery, the children could see clearly again.

Today they are back at school, building their confidence and creating brighter futures.

Manyeso says the difference has been life changing.

"I left with children who struggled to see and came back with children who could finally see the world around them."

Read Manyeso's story

Scaling up: the next phase

We are working to ensure more people can access quality eye care, regardless of where they live.

With continued investment, we will:

Expand access to services in underserved counties.

Strengthen the eye health workforce.

Increase community awareness and early detection.

Improve access to cataract surgery and other sight-saving treatments.

Support stronger and more sustainable eye health systems.

By strengthening services from community level through to specialist care, we can help ensure more people across Kenya have the opportunity to see clearly and live independently.

Paediatric ophthalmology team, led by Dr Lilian Kwamboka

Our achievements

Since we started working in Kenya in 2004, The Foundation has increased coverage of eye health services through the establishment of diverse partnerships with county governments, health training institutions,community-based organisations and the private sector.

During this time, we have demonstrated that quality eye care can be delivered by mid-level ophthalmic workers and that the large backlog of cases awaiting surgery can be eliminated. In close collaboration with the Ministry of Health, The Foundation has transformed trachoma programming through the innovation of TT+, an integrated, cost-effective outreach model.

This model has contributed to the reduction in transmission of trachoma in the country and is now being adopted in other countries.

In 2025, The Foundation and its partners made great progress in key strategic areas in Africa:

3,002,237

People screened.

12,762,789

People treated with antibiotics for trachoma.

20,345

Pairs of glasses distributed.

171

Facilities built, equipped or renovated.

26,295

People trained including community health workers, surgeons and teachers.

225,203

Eye operations and treatments performed including cataract operations, surgeries to treat trachoma, diabetic retinopathy treatments and other sight saving or improving interventions.