Charity Restart Africa Fighting Child Poverty in Kenya

Restart Africa

Restart Africa is a charity based in Gilgil in the Nakuru County of Kenya. The charity provides a home for young people whose communities and families have abused or abandoned them, leaving them in poor conditions. The Borgen Project spoke with Benjamin Morgan, who began volunteering with Restart Africa in 2017 and now acts as its Fundraising Coordinator in the U.K., helping to maintain a regular stream of donors.

Morgan explained that the organization is coming to the end of its 14th year of grassroots action to support those living in extreme poverty in Kenya but claims that more needs to be done to raise awareness of the political situation in Kenya and the subsequent effects on its citizens.

Causes of Child Poverty in Kenya

Morgan attributes a lack of investment in key infrastructure and institutions as responsible for the way in which many young Kenyans are left on the fringes of society surviving off very little.

He told The Borgen Project: “Government corruption and wealth inequality remain as two strong opponents to ending poverty [in Kenya]. One only needs to look at the past two elections to see widespread mistrust in Kenya’s electoral practices.”

Historical Roots of Poverty

Political instability plagued Kenya throughout its history, stemming from British colonial rule and the lasting legacies of both colonialism and subsequent corrupt governments, Morgan explained. In 2021, Kenya ranked 128 out of 180 in the Corruption Perceptions Index suggesting that much progress is needed to establish democratic institutions which can meet the needs of Kenyan citizens.

Given this corruption, many charities such as Restart Africa do not receive any kind of government funding and rely solely on charitable donations, often coming from overseas. Recent global events, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, have made revenue streams uncertain. Morgan states that the charity is not only vulnerable to “global issues,” but also “a change of heart.”

According to Restart Africa, building awareness is a vital first step to tackling child poverty in Kenya and raising funds. Morgan explained that “the U.K. knows appalling[ly]little about our history in Kenya […] Regardless of atrocity, Britain’s impact on Kenya has been profound as the post-colonial frameworks set up in the aftermath of independence have had lasting impacts on wealth inequality and poverty.” Restart Africa urges people to consider the ways in which children without access to education and healthcare begin their lives on the back foot.

Charities such as Restart Africa encourage us to acknowledge our privilege in global hierarchies and strive for a better future for disenfranchised children, Morgan explained. Small organizations working on the ground are hugely inspirational when it comes to tackling poverty within disenfranchised communities. Raising the question of foreign aid could help garner even greater support for organizations such as Restart Africa and tackle global poverty on a wider scale.