Senators oppose move to close children homes

By Newsflash Correspondent

A section of senators is urging the national government to tackle the growing issue of homelessness among children and vulnerable groups before moving ahead with plans to shut down privately-run children’s homes and orphanages across the country.

The government, through the National Council for Children Services, has announced plans to phase out institutional child care in favor of family and community-based care models. The shift is part of a broader reform agenda aimed at aligning with global best practices that prioritize family environments over orphanages.

However, senators are raising concerns that without proper groundwork, the move could leave thousands of children and vulnerable individuals without necessary support structures.

Nominated Senator Esther Okenyuri called on President William Ruto’s administration to first invest in more shelters and safe spaces for homeless children and other at-risk populations. She emphasized that these facilities would offer temporary and transitional housing as the country builds more sustainable long-term care systems.

She questioned whether the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, in collaboration with stakeholders, had developed a national policy for the rehabilitation and reintegration of homeless children and vulnerable mothers. “We need a comprehensive framework that includes empowerment, social support, and long-term care strategies,” she said.

Okenyuri further urged the Senate’s Labour and Social Welfare Committee to investigate whether a coordinated approach exists between government agencies, civil society, and development partners to tackle the root causes of homelessness. She also called for the involvement of county governments, especially through their social welfare and child protection departments, to determine if local rescue and support services—such as counseling, healthcare, education, and vocational training—are in place.

She stressed the need to assess whether enough budgetary allocations have been made for the construction, staffing, and maintenance of shelters that would support this transition, ensuring they are both effective and sustainable.

Policy shift towards family-based care

Last week, the National Council for Children Services reaffirmed the government’s commitment to transitioning from institutional care to family-based systems. CEO Adanoor Mohammed said the plan involves repurposing residential care resources to strengthen families and communities. The reform pillars include family preservation, foster care, guardianship, and adoption.

Murang’a Senator Joe Nyutu supported the reform in principle but insisted that the government must first address the systemic causes of homelessness. He proposed setting aside units from the ongoing affordable housing programme to accommodate street families and homeless individuals. “We cannot speak of solving homelessness while overburdening citizens through taxes to build homes that are ultimately unaffordable,” Nyutu said.

Kisii Senator Richard Onyonka echoed the proposal, backing the allocation of some affordable housing units to those in need.

The government made an international commitment during the 2024 Global Ministerial Conference on Children to do away with institutional child care. It pledged to transition 70 percent of children currently living in children’s homes to family and community-based care models by 2027.