Oxfam has been operating in Kenya since 1963 in the poorest and marginalised arid and semi arid lands (ASALs) of the Northern Kenya. Our initial focus was to meet the humanitarian imperative on food security and water and sanitation. With time, Oxfam in Kenya evolved its programmes from humanitarian response to building longer term programmes that would increase community resilience. Acknowledging growing urbanisation and the resultant complexity in addressing the basic needs and rights, In 2008 Oxfam in Kenya  started engaging with strategic long term programming in the urban informal settlements. Over the next five years, Oxfam in Kenya will significantly shift its way of delivering programmes. We have adopted an influencing and campaigning strategy to positively impact on the lives of the disenfranchised and poor people.