Across Kenya, billions of shillings flow each year into humanitarian aid, healthcare, education, governance programs, refugee support, climate resilience, and community development projects.
According to the regulator’s PBO Sector Report 2024/2025, Kenya’s public benefit sector received KES 246.7 billion in funding during the financial year, up from KES 210 billion the previous year.
The report also highlights where much of these development projects are concentrated across the country.
Most importantly, the report shows that NGO money in Kenya does not flow evenly.
Some counties continue to attract far more development funding than others because of population size, project implementation scale, poverty levels, refugee presence, climate vulnerability, health burdens, or strategic economic importance.
Here are some of the Kenyan counties emerging as major NGO funding destinations based on PBORA’s latest sector trends.
1. Nairobi County – Kenya’s NGO Capital
Nairobi emerged as the busiest county for NGO activity, hosting 2,862 NGO projects during the reporting period.
The capital also hosts hundreds of NGO headquarters, donor agencies, embassies, UN offices, think tanks, and international development institutions.
This makes Nairobi not only an administrative center, but also a major gateway for donor financing entering Kenya.
Many organizations operating nationally manage budgets, staffing, logistics, reporting, and partnerships from Nairobi before implementing projects in other counties.
From governance programs and human rights initiatives to youth empowerment, health systems strengthening, and urban poverty interventions, Nairobi continues to absorb a significant share of Kenya’s NGO ecosystem.
2. Turkana County – Refugee and Humanitarian Funding Hotspot
Turkana is among the counties that regularly receive billions of shillings in form of NGO project funding in Kenya.
With major refugee operations around the Kakuma area, chronic drought exposure, food insecurity challenges, and infrastructure gaps, Turkana has become one of Kenya’s most donor-supported counties.
International agencies, faith-based organizations, and relief groups continue to invest heavily in:
- Refugee support
- Water and sanitation
- Climate resilience
- Livelihood programs
- Child nutrition
- Education access
For many NGOs, Turkana remains one of the country’s highest-priority intervention zones.
3. Kisumu County – Health and Governance Funding Hub
Kisumu continues to attract strong NGO interest, especially in health and governance programming.
With 1194 reported NGO projects in 2024/25, the county has historically been central to interventions involving:
- HIV/AIDS programs
- Malaria prevention
- Maternal healthcare
- Community governance initiatives
- Water and sanitation projects
Its strategic position in western Kenya and urban-rural population mix make it a key donor destination.
4. Kajiado County – Community and Climate-Focused NGO Projects
Kajiado County emerged among the counties with a high concentration of NGO projects during the reporting period, hosting 998 projects, according to the Public Benefit Organizations Regulatory Authority.
Bordering Nairobi and stretching across vast semi-arid landscapes, Kajiado has increasingly attracted nonprofit interventions linked to climate resilience, water access, pastoral livelihoods, education, public health, and women’s economic empowerment.
The county’s unique mix of rapidly growing urban centers, pastoral communities, recurring drought, and land-use changes has made it a strategic focus for both local and international development organizations.
Many projects in Kajiado are designed around:
- Water and sanitation access
- Drought adaptation and climate resilience (carbon credits)
- Livestock and pastoral livelihood support
- Girls’ education and child protection
- Maternal and community health
- Women and youth empowerment
Its proximity to Nairobi also makes Kajiado logistically attractive for organizations running pilot programs that combine rural development with peri-urban community outreach.
According to PBORA’s latest sector data, this has helped position Kajiado as one of the increasingly active counties in Kenya’s public benefit landscape.
5. Kilifi County – Health, Child Welfare, and Community Development Projects
Kilifi County emerged among the counties with a significant concentration of NGO project funding during the reporting period, hosting 788 projects, according to Kenya’s Public Benefit Organizations Regulatory Authority.
Over the years, Kilifi has quietly become one of the most strategically important counties for public benefit organizations operating along Kenya’s coast.
While the county is internationally known for tourism destinations such as Watamu and Malindi, large parts of it continue to face deep socioeconomic challenges, including poverty, food insecurity, child vulnerability, healthcare access gaps, and water scarcity.
These realities have made the county an important destination for both local and international nonprofit organizations.
As changing weather patterns affect agriculture and water access, nonprofit organizations in Kilifi have expanded programs involving:
- Climate adaptation and resilience
- Water and sanitation access
- Food security and nutrition support
- Sustainable farming practices
- Fishing and coastal livelihoods
- Youth and women economic empowerment
6. Nakuru County – Urban Development, Refugee Support, and Economic Empowerment Projects
Nakuru County emerged among the counties with a notable concentration of NGO project funding during the reporting period, hosting 928 projects, according to Kenya’s Public Benefit Organizations Regulatory Authority.
Over the years, Nakuru has steadily grown into one of Kenya’s most strategically important counties for public benefit organizations.
Its rise is driven by a unique combination of rapid urban growth, agricultural importance, industrial expansion, refugee presence, and widening social development needs.
As one of Kenya’s newest cities and a major economic center in the Rift Valley, Nakuru presents both opportunity and inequality, making it an increasingly attractive destination for local and international nonprofit organizations.
Many organizations in Nakuru focus on:
- Maternal and child healthcare
- Reproductive health education
- HIV/AIDS awareness and treatment support
- Mental health and psychosocial support
- Nutrition and community health outreach
