Isiolo County, Kenya
Labour and Social Protection Cabinet Secretary, Florence Bore, revealed a significant policy shift on Sunday, announcing the Kenyan government’s intention to abolish privately owned children’s homes and orphanages.
Bore cited concerns over child trafficking as a primary motivation for this move.
During her address in Isiolo County, Bore emphasized that only government-owned homes operating under the Child Welfare Society of Kenya would be permitted to continue their operations.
She asserted that these private homes had become avenues for child trafficking, necessitating their closure.
“The reason why we are closing them up is because we have been given directions under the Children’s Act that the private homes should be closed. They have also been routes for child trafficking, so the government wants us to retain the institutions that we have under the Child Welfare Society of Kenya,” stated Bore.
The government aims to implement these changes over an 8-year period, during which private children’s homes will cease to exist.
Bore stressed the importance of preparation to accommodate the children who will transition from private facilities to government-run institutions during this period.
Furthermore, the Children’s Act, at the heart of this policy change, seeks to uphold the rights of children by promoting their upbringing within families and communities.
Data from the Social Protection department has revealed that there are currently between 45,000 to 50,000 children residing in approximately 855 private charitable children’s institutions.
