A new bill, the Care and Protection of Child Parents Bill, 2023, is proposing a Ksh500,000 fine for individuals running daycare centres illegally.
Individuals who are running daycare centres without a permit from the county government will also risk a one-year imprisonment or both.
“A person who contravenes the provisions of subsection (1) commits an offence and shall be liable, on conviction, to a fine not exceeding five hundred thousand shillings, or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year, or to both,” read the bill in part.
Further legislation on the process of application, license application criteria and the fees to be charged will be created by each county.
However, anyone aiming to set up the centre will be required to have the location assessed before any permit is issued.
The bill provides for a subsection that will have county governments open childcare centres close to educational institutions to cater for children below three years and those born by child parents resuming school.
However, the bill provides that individuals within the county who have no person to care for the child or access to child care services can access these services offered by the county.
Additionally, the bill also proposes that individuals willing to open up the child care centres will also be required to have facilities developed according to standards dictated by county governments.
“A person shall not establish or manage a care centre unless the centre is registered and a licence issued in accordance with the provisions of this Act”, states the bill.
The bill aims to facilitate the non-discrimination of child parents and promote their return to school after bearing children.
It also aims to provide accessible and affordable childcare services that are well-regulated across all the counties.
Parliament is expected to hold the First Hearing during the week after which it will be subjected to the second and third hearing it sails through this week.
