World Vision and Evangelical Alliance of Kenya (EAK) Partner to Improve Child Well-being in Kenya

World Vision Kenya and the Evangelical Alliance of Kenya (EAK) have united under a shared mission to enhance the well-being of children across Kenya. Sealed by a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), this partnership was celebrated at the signing ceremony on Monday, 22nd July 2024, at the World Vision Kenya offices in Nairobi. The presence of key leaders from both organizations underscored the shared commitment to this vital cause.

In his keynote address during the MoU signing ceremony, Gilbert Kamanga, World Vision Kenya's National Director, welcomed the move, saying, “This MoU not only solidifies our collaboration and coordination with the faith leaders and organizations but also marks the beginning of a long-term commitment to enhancing the well-being of children in Kenya.”

Gilbert added that collaboration with like-minded people in places where children are the most vulnerable is core to advancing World Vision's mission. “We strongly believe that every child has a right to reach their full potential, but we can't achieve these goals on our own,” he said.

In its current strategy (2022-2025), World Vision Kenya set an ambitious goal of contributing to the improved and sustained well-being of 8,827,654 children, including 2,521,600 children identified as the most vulnerable children, by 2025. Through the Faith and Development Pillar, World Vision ensures that children have improved relationship with God, enhanced self-image and esteem, and enriched relationships with parents and peers, generating hope for brighter futures.

World Vision Kenya and Evangelical Alliance of Kenya leadership team members pose for a photograph after the MoU signing ceremony on 22nd July 2024. © World Vision Photo | Samuel Kisambe

Fredrick Kasiku, Director for Programme Effectiveness at World Vision Kenya, emphasized the importance of church partnerships in the organization’s mission. “This organization [World Vision] was founded through church initiatives. Our vision directs us to be a Christian organization, so we must partner with the church. This is why we are cementing our relationship with the faith-based organizations through such partnerships.” He added, “The church is spread everywhere in Kenya, enabling us to reach children and communities effectively through our interventions. Our agenda is to transform the well-being of children.”

World Vision Kenya National Director Gilbert Kamanga (Left) and EAK Board Vice-chairperson Dr. Robert Langat (Right) displaying the signed MoU. © World Vision Photo | Samuel Kisambe

The partnership with EAK is a comprehensive initiative that focuses on five key areas, ensuring a holistic approach to enhancing child well-being:

• Integrated Community Development: This includes efforts in Integrated health and nutrition, Livelihoods and food security, Climate change and Environmental Conservation, Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), Education and child protection, Peacebuilding and conflict transformation, and Emergency response and humanitarian support coordination.
• Joint Advocacy and policy influence actions.
• Spiritual Nurture of Children, capacity building for local pastors, children's ministry volunteers, the County church, and Interfaith engagement.
• Financial Resource Mobilization: The objective is to mobilize financial resources to implement programs and projects of mutual interest.
• Technical Resource: the objective is to mobilize technical capacity to enable the implementation of agreed areas of collaboration.

Established in 1975 as the Evangelical Fellowship of Kenya (EFK) and later changed to the Evangelical Alliance of Kenya, EAK is an umbrella body for Evangelical Churches and Organizations in Kenya. Its membership includes over 900 denominations and over 70,000 congregations.

Dr. Daniel Muvengi, World Vision Faith and Development Director, East Africa Region, stressed the importance of their partnerships with churches globally for the spiritual formation of children and young people and community transformation. “We also want the church to engage on the issues affecting our country and to condemn any injustices boldly,” he added.

World Vision East Africa Region Faith and Development Director Dr Daniel Muvengi, addressing participants at the MoU signing ceremony in Nairobi, Kenya. © World Vision Photo | Samuel Kisambe

Kepha Nyandega, EAK General Secretary, expressed optimism about the newly signed partnership, urging the two organizations to remain truthful to the signed agreement. "Let’s harness our collective strengths to build a brighter future for children in Kenya.”

On his part, Bishop Dr. Robert Langat, EAK Board Vice Chairperson, applauded the collaboration and affirmed EAK’s commitment to implementing the agreement. He acknowledged World Vision's contribution to peacebuilding, especially in the country's most fragile regions. He also noted that the organization has been upfront in strengthening the capacity of the church and other faith institutions to advocate for child well-being, equipping them to be more involved in designing and implementing community development projects.

World Vision had previously signed MoUs with other faith-based organizations in Kenya, including the Child Evangelism Fellowship of Kenya, the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB), the Kenya Students Christian Fellowship (KSCF), the Scripture Union of Kenya, and the National Council of Churches in Kenya (NCCK). 

By Felix Pilipili, Communications Specialist | World Vision