Working together: Alex from CBM Global Kenya

Stories | April 20, 2026

Working together: Alex from CBM Global Kenya

CBM takes a looks behind the scenes at our employees and partners who are devoted to improving the lives of people with disabilities.

Today we are talking to Alex Githinji who is a programme officer in the CBM Global Kenya Country Team.   

Image: Alex from CBM Global Kenya

Alex, tell us what your job is about?

My job is to oversee projects supported by CBM that mainly work alongside people with disabilities, right across Kenya. I work with a small team, and we manage the development of projects that are supported by donors in places like Australia, the UK, and Switzerland.

For example, one project I support is the “Believe” project in the western part of Kenya. The whole point of that project is to ensure that people with disabilities and older people have access to eye health, cataract support, eye glasses. Often poorer people miss out on those sorts of basic services.

So, does that mean you are out in the villages most of the time?

I’d love to be, but my role is more focussed on the aspects of how we spend our funding through reporting and accountability. We visit our projects a few times a year to discuss what is being achieved and to troubleshoot challenges. But my role is often to manage some of the administrative issues, and that lets our partners get on with the important work of community change and improving lives.

All over the world we are seeing cuts in spending to humanitarian work, so we are really wanting to ensure that the work that we support is the best – and that it demonstrates good value for money.

What is the best part of your job?

It’s about seeing the amazing changes we can bring about. For example, through the nutrition support programme, we are witnessing how consistent, appropriate nourishment can unlock children’s potential. Many of the children enrolled live with disabilities and have experienced prolonged food insecurity, which has affected their growth and overall development.

By working closely with parents to support additional feeding at home – including regular porridge meals and access to protein through household poultry – families are seeing meaningful changes. Within weeks, caregivers report improvements in children’s energy levels, physical strength, and engagement with their surroundings. These early shifts remind us that when families are equipped with simple, sustainable resources, children respond quickly and positively.

Your job sounds amazing. Are your friends envious of you?

Yes, they sure are. But often they just notice when I’m travelling out to rural Kenya, and going to places they would never ever get to. But they don’t realise there’s also that office work and accountability work, and sitting looking at a spreadsheet! But I still love it! And I’m proud of CBM Global and what we are doing in Kenya for people with disability.

Thank you, Alex. Keep up the great work.

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