Kenya

Kenya, with its central location, extensive road network and port, is the economic hub of East Africa. In recent years, Kenya experienced steady economic growth and an expanding entrepreneurial middle class. Agriculture is the main economic driver contributing to 25% of its GDP. Kenya boasts of a relatively mature financial system with the fintech sector among the fastest growing in Africa.   

Kenya is a youthful country, with 75% of its population below 35 years. For years, Kenya has played a critical role in supporting humanitarian activities in the region and today serves as the second biggest refugee-hosting country in Africa. Kenya's focus lies on eradicating poverty and growing the economy through the Big Four Agenda that creates jobs in the fastest growing industries - manufacturing, food security, housing, and healthcare.
 
Kenya

facts and Figures

  • Area: 580,367 km²
  • Population: 47.6 million
  • Capital: Nairobi

Swisscontact in Kenya

  • since 1997

Projects

2022 - 2025
Kenya
Initial vocational education and training
Building skills for young plumbers and electricians through dual apprenticeship training (PropelA)
The PropelA project seeks to introduce a dual apprenticeship model driven by employers for the construction industry in Kenya and beyond, starting with plumbers and electricians.

News

Mozambique, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda
25.03.2025
Women Breaking Barriers #AcceleratingAction Across Central, East and Southern Africa
Did you know that women make up over 50% of the agricultural workforce in Sub-Saharan Africa, yet they own less than 20% of the land? Or that in Kenya, only 29% of senior management positions are held by women, despite them accounting for nearly half of the labor force? Across Tanzania, Rwanda, and Mozambique, similar gaps persist — in access to credit, education, and leadership opportunities. But change is happening. This International Women’s month, Swisscontact celebrates the unstoppable momentum of women breaking barriers and accelerating action. Under the theme #AccelerateAction, we spotlight the powerful stories of women transforming industries, building sustainable futures, and reshaping the landscape of inclusion and equality.
Kenya
Initial vocational education and training
10.03.2025
Strengthening Kenya’s Industry-Driven Apprenticeships: National Industrial Training Authority’s (NITA) Impact
From PropelA's inception, the National Industrial Training Authority (NITA) has played a crucial role in shaping the PropelA program, ensuring that apprenticeship curricula align with national standards and industry needs. As the regulatory body for industrial training, NITA provides quality assurance, oversees curriculum development, and manages accreditation. Additionally, it facilitates the collection and reimbursement of the Training Levy Fund for PropelA’s private sector partners, reinforcing employer participation.
Kenya
08.03.2025
Swisscontact Kenya International Women’s Day Celebration: Actions & Reflections
At Swisscontact, we are committed to breaking barriers, fostering inclusion, and ensuring skills development leads to real economic opportunities for all. This International Women’s Day, we reflected on how we are taking action to accelerate gender equality, not just through conversations, but through tangible, systemic changes in vocational training and the workplace.

Interventions

Swisscontact works in Kenya to reduce unemployment and improve the livelihoods of refugees, smallholders, MSMEs and the youth. Swisscontact strengthens their prospects of gainful employment by facilitating technical skills training, promoting financial literacy, and offering linkages to formal financial institutions.  

For over a decade, Swisscontact has played a role in alleviating poverty through implementing interventions that increase access to financial products and services. Through Inclusive Finance Programmes micro-enterprises, subsistence farmers and low-income households have increased their economic activities.  

In the Kakuma Refugee Camp Swisscontact supports refugees and the host community to move from humanitarian support to a lasting development pathway. Activities include income-generating capabilities and employability by facilitating technical skills training in addition to literacy, numeracy, financial and life skills, combining theoretical and hands-on techniques. 

2006 - 2020
Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda
Entrepreneurial ecosystems
Inclusive Finance Programme - 14 Years of Financial Services in East Africa
Although the 2018 IMF Financial Access Survey confirms a positive trend in access to financial products and services in Sub-Saharan Africa, many people are still excluded from the formal financial market system. Sub-Saharan Africa comprises 48 countries and 47% of the people live on less than $ 1.9 a day (World Bank 2018). To a considerable extent...
Skills for Life - project journey
The Promoting Life Skills and Livelihoods project commonly referred to as Skills for Life (S4L) was designed to strengthen the income-generating capabilities of youth (both refugee and from the host community) in Kakuma by enhancing their technical, financial, life and literacy skills to improve their chances of an enriched livelihood.
Microleasing
Transforming the lives of entrepreneurs and smallholder farmers through innovative financial solutions.

The Journey of Microleasing in Eastern Africa 2006 – 2017.
Jobs
Motivated and productive employees with initiative constitute the most important success factor in all areas of our work. We count on individuals who are looking to the future, impact- and team-oriented, and want to work in international development cooperation.

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Contact

Swisscontact in Kenya
6th Floor, Victoria Plaza
11 Parklands Road, Westlands
Nairobi