Murang’a, Kenya – In a progressive move towards enhancing child welfare, leaders of various Charitable Children Institutions (CCIs) in Murang’a have undergone comprehensive training to embrace and implement the government’s directive on transitioning to family and community-based care. This initiative is part of the government’s broader strategy, encapsulated in the Children Act 2022, which aims to have all children currently hosted by CCIs integrated into family and community-based care by 2030.
The training, sponsored by WezaCare Solutions, the Catholic Diocese of Murang’a, and the Legacy4 Children organisation, positioned CCI leaders as pivotal agents in this transformation. The leaders are expected to spearhead the transition from the traditional institutional care model to one that aligns with the new legal requirements focusing on the child’s well-being within a family and community setting.
WezaCare Director of Consultant Cornel Ogutu, who led the training sessions, outlined the transition process, which is structured into three distinct phases: learning and decision-making, preparing for the transition, and implementing the transition.
Ogutu emphasized the importance of the first phase, which involves aligning the CCI leaders to fully understand the rationale and benefits of shifting from institutional care to family- and community-based care. This phase is critical for ensuring that all stakeholders are on the same page and committed to the transition’s objectives.
In the second phase, CCI leaders are tasked with developing detailed strategies, plans, activities, and budgets to facilitate a smooth and effective transition. This phase is about laying the groundwork for the changes, ensuring that there is a clear roadmap to guide the process.
Ogutu noted that some children have already been successfully integrated with families, marking the beginning of a significant shift in the child welfare landscape. By 2030, it is anticipated that CCIs will fully transition to a supportive role, providing assistance to children within family and community-based care environments.
“We are involving all stakeholders in the children’s sector to ensure the complex transition from CCIs to child welfare programmes is successfully achieved,” Ogutu stated. He highlighted that the Children Act 2022 mandates that all children currently hosted by CCIs must be integrated into family-based care, underscoring the legal imperative behind this initiative.
Kenya is home to approximately 700 charitable children’s institutions, accommodating over 15,000 vulnerable children. Ogutu pointed out that factors such as poverty, gender-based violence, and family breakdowns are major contributors to the influx of children into these institutions. Many children end up on the streets, ultimately finding refuge in CCIs.
“As we focus on the transition, we also call upon the financiers and supporters of CCIs to adapt their support structures to align with the family and community-based care system,” Ogutu urged. This appeal highlights the need for a coordinated effort that includes financial backing to ensure the sustainability of the new child welfare approach.
The training in Murang’a is a significant step towards transforming the care model for vulnerable children in Kenya. By 2030, the vision is to have a robust system where children grow up in nurturing family and community environments, supported by a framework that prioritizes their holistic development and well-being.
