The Government is fast-tracking completion of buildings under the Child Welfare Society of Kenya as it seeks to take over the management of all care homes operating in the country.
This decision was announced by Labor and Social Protection Cabinet Secretary Florence Bore during her visit to assess progress at the Isiolo Child Welfare Society of Kenya facility.
Speaking during the assessment visit, Bore noted that some private children’s homes had become hubs for child trafficking and other illicit activities in direct violation of the Children’s Act.
As a result, she said the government is determined to assume full responsibility for the care of homeless and vulnerable children across the country, a process expected to actualize over the next 6-8 years.
To meet this goal, the government is creating sufficient space to accommodate all children from private homes, including allocating funds to complete stalled construction projects.
The Child Welfare Society of Kenya, operating under the state’s jurisdiction, currently provides care and support to over 3,000 children across various homes nationwide and reaches out to approximately 700,000 children annually through its various programs.
The Isiolo facility has been designated to host children from the entire Northern Kenya region, including counties such as Mandera, Garissa, Wajir, Tana River, and Marsabit.
During the visit, Cabinet Secretary Florence Bore was flanked by the Board of Trustees of the Child Welfare Society of Kenya, led by CEO Irene Mureithi.
Gene Gituku and Bruno Mutunga
