The Government of Kenya seeks to abolish all children’s homes and orphanages that are privately owned, Labour and Social Protection Cabinet Secretary Florence Bore has said.
Speaking in Isiolo County on Sunday, Bore said only government-owned homes, which are under the Child Welfare Society of Kenya will be allowed to operate.
She noted that private homes have been avenues for child trafficking.
“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 government wants us to retain the institutions that we have under the child welfare society of Kenya,” Bore stated.
According to the Social Protection CS, the government will implement the changes within a period spanning 8 years.
“In the next eight years those private homes will not exist. We need to prepare in order to absorb those children that will come from private homes,” she said.
The Children’s Act is also aimed at supporting the rights of children to grow up in families and communities.
Data from the Social Protection department showed that there are 45,000 -50,000 children living in about 855 private charitable children’s institutions and others living in government-run institutions as of November 2022.
