For the first time, Kenya has measured the growth, learning, and development of children under five as part of a major national health survey, marking a milestone in how the country plans and delivers support for its youngest citizens. Early childhood is a critical period for brain development, and the quality of nurturing care—including health, nutrition, safety, responsive caregiving, and early learning opportunities—shapes children’s growth and potential.
Data collection for the Kenya Mini Demographic and Health Survey 2025/26 was completed across 30,000 households in 1,000 communities nationwide. Alongside traditional health indicators, the survey incorporated the World Health Organization’s Global Scales for Early Development (GSED), a tool designed to assess children from birth to three years old, capturing cognitive, communicative, and social development in addition to physical health. The tool was adapted for the Kenyan context, translated into local languages, and delivered using engaging picture cards to support effective data collection.
For children aged three to five years, the survey also integrated UNICEF’s Early Childhood Development Index 2030, providing a comprehensive assessment of early childhood development from birth to five years. Feedback from data collectors indicated that mothers responded positively to the picture cards, creating an environment conducive to accurate and complete responses. WHO supported the survey by training the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics, the Ministry of Health, and field teams, enabling 150 data collectors to implement the tools successfully across all 47 counties.
Once analyzed, the findings are expected to give Kenyan authorities unprecedented insight into whether children are thriving or falling behind, and the factors influencing their development. The survey also collected broader health data from women aged 15 to 49, covering maternal and child health, family planning, reproductive health, health insurance, and domestic violence, providing a mid-term health check between national surveys.
The evidence generated by the survey will directly inform national policies and budget decisions, allowing planners to allocate resources where children need them most. Dr. Neema Rusibamayila Kimambo, WHO representative a.i. to Kenya, emphasized the importance of the initiative, noting that the findings will create opportunities to improve the health and wellbeing of children across the country.
