The Labour and Social Protection Cabinet Secretary, Alfred Mutua, has revealed that the government is set to conduct a certification process to regulate children's homes in the country.
Speaking during the handing over of the State Department for Children Welfare Services to the newly appointed Principal Secretary, Carren Ageng’o, on Wednesday, April 23, Mutua stressed that the certification of children's homes will ensure adherence to proper standards.
The CS did not, however, disclose when this process will kickstart.
"In collaboration with the Child Welfare Society and with the strong support of PS Shadrack Mwadime, PS Joseph Motari, PS Carren Ageng’o, and other senior officials, we are moving to regulate children’s homes through a structured certification process to ensure proper standards are upheld," he said.
Mutua has further said that the government is keen to increase and equip the number of rehabilitation centres across the country to reduce the number of street kids, as well as nurture them.
"Encouragingly, we have witnessed a noticeable reduction in the number of street families. Our next focus is to scale up rehabilitation centres to equip rescued children with life skills and create opportunities that will allow them to grow into productive and empowered members of society," he said.
The CS has further assured that the government is reinforcing its efforts to combat child trafficking and other harmful culturally sponsored practices such as Female Genital Mutilation (FGM).
"Our focus moving forward will be anchored on key priority areas: protecting children’s rights by ensuring access to shelter, clothing, food, and safe reintegration into supportive environments; promoting family values and kinship adoption; and safeguarding children from drug abuse, societal violence, media exploitation, and sexual abuse," he said.
The announcement comes two months after the CS was grilled by the social protection committee over the government's decision to halt funding to the Child Welfare Society of Kenya (CWSK), which serves over 700,000 children countrywide.
According to Mutua, who appeared before the committee on Tuesday, February 25, the move was aimed at addressing the inefficiencies in resources.
However, acknowledging the gravity of the situation, the CS claimed that he had raised concerns to prevent the disruption of critical child welfare services.
Some of the mandates of the CWSK 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.
