Kitui Development Centre (KDC) is a registered local non-profit making organization working in the larger Kitui County of Eastern Kenya. Kitui Development Centre was registered as an autonomous organization in 2001 under the NGO Coordination Act of 1990. In January 2010 KDC got a permit from the NGO Coordination Board to work in the Lower Eastern Province of Kenya. Kitui Development Centre is a capacity building organization involved in rural development activities which are geared towards poverty reduction. The organizations program focus includes Food Security and Agri-business (FSA), Child Protection (CP), Environmental Conservation and Climate Change (ECC), Community Health and Nutrition (CHN), Community Social -Capital Development (CSD). The organization’s project geographical coverage is in eight sub counties of Kitui Central, Kitui West, Kitui East, Kitui South, Kitui Rural, Mwingi North, Mwingi Central and Mwingi West. The organization has played a significant role in the socio-economic development of the project area since its services targets and benefits the poor and vulnerable communities. Among the strategies used in the local resource mobilization for wealth creation includes formation and training of the SHGs/VSLA approach on a savings and lending culture.
KDC facilitates the community to identify the pressing needs and set objectives. A holistic and participatory approach is used to develop an appropriate plan of action. The needs which emerge from the community are then translated into projects. Key to that is the facilitation of positive attitudes change to the poor and marginalized communities. This empowerment leads the community to change of negative attitude, behavior and practices in order to live a life of greater hope and dignity. KDC projects are initiated with a sustainability strategy to minimize project abandonment after the funding.
KDC has five thematic area that complement each other activities towards the achievement of its goals and objectives. These are:
Community Social -Capital Development (CSD). KDC enhances governance in community institutional framework of the existing community organizations through Peoples institutions (SHGs, Chama’s, and VLSAs). This includes training on resource mobilization, community wealth creation project management, community extension, resource mobilization and utilization and group dynamics. As a result, KDC supports projects where participants gain knowledge and confidence needed to solve their own problems. Local leaders are nurtured, empowered and later on emerge thereby enabling communities to become stronger.
Food Security and Agri-business- KDC promotes projects that are geared towards food security by utilizing appropriate knowledge and abilities among the community. Key to food security is to develop strategies and coping mechanism to ensure food availability throughout the year. Trainings on food security are conducted by the line ministries which include; Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Livestock, Kenya Agricultural and livestock Research organization (KARLO) and others promoting agricultural value chains.
Child Protection (CP)- KDC works with children, their families, communities and local authorities to prevent and respond to violence, abuse, neglect, and exploitation against children with urgent, life-saving actions. Our programs ensure the protection needs of children are met, with particular attention paid to the unique risks faced by adolescent girls and OVC
Environmental Conservation and Climate Change- Enhancing the Resilience of Communities to Adapt to the Adverse Effects of Climate Change on their Food Security. Communities are facilitated to identify resources within their reach and establish strategies of proper mobilization and utilization
Community Health and Nutrition (CHN), In partnership with the Ministry of Health, KDC facilitates the community to identify the nutrition and health needs in the area and develop a working strategy. These include community eating habits, availability, sanitation management, Maternal and Neonatal health (Reproductive health), school health, HIV/Aids, Capacity building trainings among others. Such project facilitatesimprovement of the living conditions of the parent/guardian to care and support the OVCs in a sustainable manner.
