The Kakamega Project - Western Kenya

Growing Choices for
Life and Learning

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The Kakamega Project is designed to build sustainable foundations for dyslexia education in Kenya, beginning with Kakamega County in the country’s west.

With an estimated 10 million Kenyans experiencing dyslexia, the project’s mission is to ensure that learners with diverse cognitive profiles can succeed in school and beyond. At its core, the program equips remedial tutors and parents with effective, practical methods that directly address the challenges faced by dyslexic and visual-spatial learners. By focusing on strategies that are hands-on, accessible, and immediately applicable, the project seeks to support children at risk of dropping out of school, thereby improving long-term educational and economic outcomes.

The training program is structured around the Davis® Parent Power - Dyslexia developed by Richard Whitehead of the Davis® Foundations for Reading.

Delivered over six weeks, it combines an introductory webinar with a series of weekly sessions that introduce powerful tools for managing dyslexic confusions, strengthening word and picture thinking, and developing effective reading, spelling, and comprehension skills. These approaches are designed by dyslexics for dyslexics, ensuring their relevance and resonance. Importantly, the model emphasises not only skill-building but also reframing dyslexia as a perceptual talent, which can become a source of strength for learners.

Participants in the program include parents and remedial tutors from Kakamega County and other Kenyan regions. Once trained, they are able to provide ongoing support to children in their care, creating a multiplier effect that strengthens entire communities. By introducing leading-edge dyslexia education methods and adapting them to the Kenyan context, the Kakamega Project is paving the way for a more equitable education system where all learners, regardless of learning style, have the chance to thrive.