COOPI has been present in Kenya since 1992 and has managed interventions in rural development; access to water, healthcare and education. Additionally, it has managed food security projects in response to the periods of severe drought regularly affecting the country and has also improved a number of slums in Nairobi by building houses and other basic infrastructures.

In Northern Kenya, COOPI has intervened between 1992 and 2018. A large proportion of COOPI's interventions were cross border (Kenya/Somalia) and focused on improving efficiency in the use of shared natural resources through support to existing traditional and social arrangements.

In this process, COOPI’s strategy largely concentrated on the improvement of water sources (pans, wells, rock catchments, underground tanks) with specific emphasis on water and feed for livestock. The strategy included building the capacity of pastoralists to manage the natural resource base in a sustainable manner, while at the same time encouraging co-existence of the pastoralist groups and the sharing of resources during critical times. The work also included promotion of improvements in animal productivity (particularly animal health and fodder/pasture improvements).

The Regional Coordination Office of COOPI in eastern and southern Africa is located in Nairobi, Kenya.