DEAF EMPOWERMENT KENYA

What DEAF EMPOWERMENT KENYA does

Deaf Empowerment Kenya (DEK) is a Nairobi-headquartered non-governmental organization that empowers people with disabilities, particularly deaf individuals, through programs in HIV prevention and treatment, sexual and reproductive health, inclusive education, vocational training, economic empowerment, and climate action. The organization was founded by five deaf persons in Dandora as the Deaf and Disabled Self Help Group (DDSHG) around a savings and loaning scheme, later formally registered as DEK and expanded to serve persons with all types of disabilities. Its service portfolio spans ten active projects including the Machakos Youth Drop-In Centre (a standalone youth-friendly SRH facility in Machakos County), the COACH HIV/TB prevention project, the Adolescents and Youth HIV Program delivered as a sub-recipient of Kenya Red Cross under Global Fund, the Edu-WISE inclusive education and labor-market inclusion project, the INN2WIN skills and entrepreneurship program, the Youth Voice Project, the DYESL deaf-youth livelihood program, the Green Youth 360 environmental project in Dadaab and Kakuma refugee camps, and the KCDF Post-COVID Recovery project for PWD households in Nairobi informal settlements. Geographic coverage extends across Nairobi, Machakos, Kajiado, Muranga, Makueni, Garissa, and Turkana counties plus Dadaab and Kakuma refugee contexts.

Name

DEAF EMPOWERMENT KENYA

Legal name

Deaf Empowerment Kenya

Website

https://dekkenya.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Deaf Empowerment Kenya is a Nairobi-based non-profit NGO that delivers community programs in HIV prevention, sexual and reproductive health, inclusive education, vocational training, and economic empowerment for people with disabilities, youth, and refugees across multiple Kenyan counties and refugee camps.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Development and Disability Inclusion Services

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (624310), Human Rights Organizations (813311), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (62431)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Disability Services & Assistive Solutions (Accessibility, Assistive Tech) (BPAGALAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGACAG), Disability Rights & Accessibility Advocacy (BPAGAFAF), Rural Livelihoods & Economic Empowerment (BPAGABAA), Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGAEAG)

Keywords

• Disability inclusion services
• HIV prevention programs
• Inclusive education support
• Youth economic empowerment
• Community health services

Headquarters

HQ city

Nairobi

HQ country

Kenya

HQ region

Africa

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Grant Funding: Primary revenue stream from institutional donors and development agencies providing programmatic funding for HIV prevention, disability inclusion, education, youth empowerment, and climate programs.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

DEAF EMPOWERMENT KENYA is a non-profit organization that empowers people with disabilities, particularly deaf individuals, through community-based programs in HIV prevention and treatment, sexual and reproductive health, inclusive education, vocational training, economic empowerment, and climate action. Services are delivered free of charge to beneficiaries through partnerships with health facilities, schools, youth centers, and community networks across multiple Kenyan counties and refugee contexts.

Product overview

DEAF EMPOWERMENT KENYA (DEK) is a non-profit organization that does not offer a unified software product but operates a portfolio of community service programs focused on empowering people with disabilities, particularly deaf individuals. The organization's offerings include the Machakos Youth Drop In Centre providing sexual reproductive health services, combined with health programs (COACH HIV Project, Adolescents and Youth HIV Program), education initiatives (Edu-WISE, Elimu Bora Maisha Bora), economic empowerment programs (INN2WIN, Youth Voice, DYESL, KCDF Post Covid Recovery), and environmental programs (Green Youth 360). These programs work together to address disability inclusion across healthcare, education, employment, and community development sectors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Machakos Youth Drop-In Centre (DIC) A stand-alone facility in Machakos County providing sexual reproductive health services, HIV testing, GBV response, comprehensive sexuality education, and recreational activities for youth and adolescents in a stigma-free environment with clinical equipment and professionals.
• Community Oriented Actions against HIV (COACH) Project HIV and TB prevention project in Machakos County focusing on community-based prevention, treatment services, and integrated healthcare for people living with HIV, supported by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS).
• Edu-WISE Project (Educational and Work Inclusion for Young Students with Disabilities) Inclusive education and labor market access initiative for youth with disabilities across Nairobi, Muranga, and Makueni counties, including vocational training, OPD networks, TVET curriculum review, and employment linkages, implemented with CEFA, AICS, L'Africa Chiama, TVETA, NCPWD, FKE, and the University of Florence.
• INN2WIN Project Skills development and entrepreneurship program targeting unemployed youth aged under 35 in the Nairobi metropolitan area (including Kiambu, Machakos, and Kajiado counties), with focus on digitalization and technological innovation for 40 youth including 20 with disabilities and 20 GBV survivors, supported by AICS.
• Youth Voice Project Entrepreneurial skills training for youth with disabilities in five Nairobi sub-counties (Embakasi North, East, West, Central, and Ruaraka), providing hands-on training in clock making, flower vase creation, and bakery skills.
• Green Youth 360 Project Environmental sustainability initiative for refugee and host community youth in Garissa County (Dadaab camp) and Turkana County (Kakuma camp), focusing on green skills, tree planting, clean environment, renewable energy, and organic farming.
• Adolescents and Youth HIV Program HIV prevention, treatment, and care program targeting adolescents and young people aged 10-24 in Machakos and Kajiado counties, funded by the Global Fund through the Kenya Red Cross Society and implemented with No One Out and Medicus Mundi Italia.
• Elimu Bora, Maisha Bora Project Two-pronged project funded by Deaf Child Worldwide focusing on quality education among deaf children in Thawabu and Baba Dogo primary schools, and quality of life for deaf youth including employment support.
• Deaf Youth Empowerment for Sustainable Livelihood (DYESL) Project Second-phase project ensuring 40 deaf youth aged 15-25 in Nairobi County live independent lives with job market readiness, life skills, financial literacy, and employer sensitization on deaf-friendly workplace practices.
• KCDF Post Covid-19 Recovery Project Recovery initiative for persons with disabilities in Nairobi informal settlements (Dandora, Njiru, Kayole, Soweto), providing entrepreneurial skills training, business support, and COVID-19 information accessibility, supported by the Kenya Community Development Fund (KCDF).

Quantifiable outcome

• 12,239 AGYW reached with HIV prevention programs and CSE
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

21 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Kenya Community Development Fund (KCDF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKCDF is listed as a key partner supporting DEK's community development initiatives, including the Post Covid 19 Recovery project targeting households of PWDs in Nairobi informal settlements.
• Kenya Red CrosscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKenya Red Cross is a key implementing partner, serving as the principal recipient for Global Fund HIV grants that DEK implements in Machakos and Kajiado counties.
• Ministry of Health (Kenya)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMinistry of Health partnership for health programs including HIV prevention, TB/HIV co-infection, and youth-friendly health services.
• UNODC Eastern AfricamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUNODC EA partners with DEK on criminal justice and drug control programs, with DEK contributing to PLEAD newsletter publications.
• Handicap International (Humanity & Inclusion)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for disability inclusion programs in Kenya and Somalia, supporting deaf youth and persons with disabilities.
• No One OutcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerImplementing partner for the Adolescents and Youth Program, handling stigma and discrimination reduction objective through work with KENEPOTE in schools.
• Medicus Mundi Italia (MMI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerImplementing partner for the Adolescents and Youth Program, handling adherence to treatment objective with adherence counsellors and peer educators in health facilities.
• National Council for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment partner for disability inclusion, involved in Edu-WISE project and FUZU job database platform for youth with disabilities.
• L'Africa ChiamamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerItalian NGO partner in Edu-WISE project implementing inclusive vocational training for persons with disabilities.
• University of FlorencemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner in Edu-WISE project through ARCO-PIN for action research and co-development on disability inclusion.
• CEFA (European Committee for Training and Agriculture)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLead applicant for Edu-WISE project implementing inclusive education and vocational training with DEK as a partner.
• ARCO-PIN (Action Research for Co-development)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner working with University of Florence on disability inclusion action research in Edu-WISE project.
• University of VeronamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner (Dipartimento di Diagnostica e Sanità Pubblica) supporting COACH project with technical expertise for HIV/TB programs.
• TVETA (Technical and Vocational Education and Training Authority)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment authority partner in Edu-WISE project for reviewing TVET curriculum and establishing technical working groups for disability mainstreaming.
• Federation of Kenya Employers (FKE)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEmployer federation partner in Edu-WISE project for organizing school-business forums, job fairs, and disability inclusion training for companies.
• County Government of MachakoscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment partner owning the Machakos Youth and Children's Center premises. Signed partnership facilitates Drop-In Centre's sustainability with assigned health and social welfare professionals.
• Bliss Medical HealthcareminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPreviously conducted mental health sessions for learners at the Machakos Youth Drop-In Centre.
• Africa for SDGsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner that has conducted mental health sessions at the Machakos Youth Drop-In Centre.
• SHOFCO (Shining Hope for Communities)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a partner organization in DEK's partner network.
• GCN (Global Climate Network)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a partner organization in DEK's partner network.
• KENEPOTE (Kenya Network of Positive Teachers)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorking with No One Out on creating awareness to end stigma and discrimination for PLHIV through school-based awareness sessions.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Sense International: Disability-focused INGO supporting deafblind and people with complex disabilities in low-income countries, including East Africa. Comparable on specialized disability programming and donor base.
• Leonard Cheshire: Global disability-inclusion NGO active across Africa, supporting education and economic empowerment for persons with disabilities. Directly comparable on mission, beneficiary focus, and donor architecture (UK trusts, EU, institutional funders).
• Sightsavers: Disability-focused INGO active in Kenya across inclusive health, education, and economic empowerment. Comparable in operational scale, geographic footprint, and reliance on institutional donor funding.
• Light for the World: International disability-inclusive development NGO with strong East Africa presence supporting inclusive education, livelihoods, and eye health. Directly comparable on disability empowerment programming and donor profile.
• Kenya National Association of the Deaf (KNAD): National deaf-led membership organization for Deaf Kenyans, pursuing rights, education, and economic empowerment. Most directly comparable to DEK as a deaf-led NGO operating in the same country and serving overlapping beneficiary populations.
• Handicap International / Humanity & Inclusion: Major international NGO operating disability inclusion programs in Kenya and Somalia, including deaf youth services. Listed as an active DEK partner; highly comparable in target population, geography, and donor pool.
• CBM (Christoffel-Blindenmission): International disability-focused development organization working on inclusive health, education, and livelihoods in low- and middle-income countries. Closely aligned to DEK on inclusive education and HIV-disability intersection programming.
• Cheshire Foundation Kenya: Kenyan affiliate of Leonard Cheshire supporting persons with disabilities through education, livelihoods, and community inclusion. Comparable to DEK as a country-level disability NGO with overlapping programs and donor pool.
• United Disabled Persons of Kenya (UDPK): Cross-disability DPO in Kenya advocating for rights, inclusion, and economic empowerment of persons with disabilities. Comparable to DEK as a Kenyan DPO working on rights, livelihoods, and inclusion across overlapping constituencies.

Regional players

• Africa Disability Alliance: Continental disability-rights and inclusion organization operating across Africa. Comparable thematically to DEK's rights-based approach and continental donor-network access, but operates regionally rather than in Kenya alone.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/kenyaDek
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC_XnwHxscC3tQoMhcpAdtYw
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/deaf-empowerment-kenya

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles23 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about DEAF EMPOWERMENT KENYA