IN SUMMARY
- Government working on the Deinstitutionalisation of Children
- individuals taking advantage of children’s homes
- Rescued children will be placed under government identified foster homes
The Ministry of Labour and Social Protection has announced plans to close all children’s homes in the country.
The announcement was made by Social Protection Cabinet Secretary Florence Bore when she met Staff and Children at the Child Welfare Society of Kenya Temporary Place of Safety on Saturday.
She says the Government is working on reforming child care systems and closing down of orphanages and children’s homes,
The government will thereafter find suitable homely placements for vulnerable children and support them in non-institutional ways.
She says the process has been hailed World over as Children are able to thrive best when raised in a home.
Additionally she said the temporary places of Safety will ensure a safe space for rehabilitation , as the process of reintegration continues
Individuals taking advantage of children homes
According to the CS, some individuals are taking advantage of the children’s homes to engage in human trafficking.
”In the new program, homeless or rescued children will be placed under government identified foster homes.” said the Cs
She added that temporary places of safety ensure a safe space for rehabilitation as the government continues the process of reintegration.
Children’s Act 2022
The government enacted a new law, the Children’s Act 2022 that makes provision for the 10-year period for Kenya to do away with children’s’ homes and orphanages.
The planned Care Reform Strategy seeks to provide alternative solutions to childcare and reinforces the fact that family will remain a key unit in child upbringing.
Kenya is a signatory to the United Nations (UN) Convention and Protocols on the rights of children and coupled with local laws, family and community remain the best alternative for child upbringing.
