By Brian Kiprono - Reporter
Kenya, 14 November 2025 - The United States Embassy in Kenya has welcomed 31 new Peace Corps Volunteers who will spend the next two years living and working in local communities across the country.
The group was officially sworn in on Thursday in Kisumu after completing an intensive 11-week training programme.
Their preparation included technical skills, community health, education support, Kenyan Sign Language, and cultural orientation to help them integrate smoothly into the areas they will serve.
The new cohort brings the total number of Peace Corps Volunteers currently in Kenya to 68.
They will be posted to six counties including Busia, Bungoma, Kisumu, Siaya, Kakamega and Homa Bay, where they will work closely with teachers, health workers, community leaders, and families.
Their assignments focus on improving local health systems, supporting education for Deaf learners, and strengthening STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) education in secondary schools.
Chargé d’Affaires at the US Embassy in Nairobi, Susan Burns, applauded the volunteers for choosing to serve far from home.
“I congratulate the newest Volunteers for continuing more than six decades of Peace Corps efforts in Kenya to transform lives and improve communities. Their energy, enthusiasm, kindness, and willingness to serve have been a cornerstone of the strong partnership between the United States and Kenya,” Burns said.
For more than 60 years, over 5,000 Americans have served as Peace Corps Volunteers in Kenya. They have worked as teachers, nurses, engineers, and community development workers, often living in rural areas and partnering directly with local residents.
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In the health sector, the new volunteers will help expand outreach on HIV prevention, maternal and child health, and malaria and TB awareness. They will also support referrals and access to care by working alongside community health workers and local facilities.
In education, Volunteers will help improve teaching methods in mathematics and science, mentor teachers, and increase access to STEM resources to help Kenyan students compete globally.
Those assigned to Deaf education will work to strengthen literacy, life skills, and social inclusion for Deaf learners.
Speaking at the ceremony, John Ndung’u, the Ministry of Health’s Director of Public Health, thanked the Peace Corps for its long-standing partnership with Kenya.
He noted that volunteers’ grassroots work continues to boost public health programmes in many communities.
During the event, Education for the Deaf Volunteer Hans highlighted the importance of communication and connection.
“Language isn’t just a skill we carry; it’s a gift we give. Every time we speak someone’s language, or sign their name, we remind the world that understanding begins with effort,” he said.
