Labour Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua was on Tuesday, February 25, forced to explain the decision to withdraw funding to the Child Welfare Society of Kenya (CWSK).
Appearing before the social protection committee to review the 2025/2026 Budget Policy Statement, representatives to the society revealed that the government had decided to stop the funding completely although it served over 700,000 children countrywide.
Some of the mandates it takes over include rescuing orphans and abandoned children, supporting children with severe disabilities, operating safe houses, facilitating adoption and foster care, and protecting children from dangers such as child labour.
Going forward, CWSK projected that cases of child trafficking and child exploitation would increase. They also noted the inevitable displacement of over 3,000 children currently in safe houses due to the drastic move.
Because of these very real consequences of the cut, the lawmakers, led by Thika Town Member of Parliament Alice Ng'ang'a challenged CS Mutua to explain the government's decision.
“We are talking about the welfare and protection of Kenyan children. This Committee understands and appreciates the crucial role CWSK plays in safeguarding them. What happens to these children once the funding is halted?” she asked.
In his response, Mutua stated that the decision was made to address inefficiencies in resource utilisation.
He, however, acknowledged the gravity of the situation and assured the lawmakers that he had raised concerns to prevent the disruption of essential child welfare services.
This explanation proved unsatisfactory to the MPs, who emphasised the society's crucial role in protecting vulnerable children, noting that its withdrawal would have enormous consequences.
Seme MP James Nyikal even questioned whether an impact assessment had been conducted to fully understand the effects of the decision.
The committee’s vice-chair, Hilary Kosgei, observed that even donors might start pulling out if the government abandoned CWSK, as they would presume the government "does not care about its own children."
Ultimately, the committee resolved to hold further meetings with the CS and other stakeholders in the coming week to ensure the protection of Kenya’s children and future.
