Kenya Launches Nationwide Closure of Children's Homes

Kenya is embarking on an ambitious overhaul of its child welfare system, transitioning from institutional care to family and community-based alternatives. 

Spearheaded by the National Council for Children Services, the policy shift aims to close nearly 1,000 children’s homes nationwide, replacing them with environments conducive to children’s emotional and social development.
The initiative responds to research highlighting the long-term adverse effects of institutional care on children’s psychological and developmental well-being. Adanoor Mohammed, CEO of the National Council for Children Services, has urged stakeholders to embrace the transformation, emphasising that family and community-based care yield better outcomes.

Anchored in the National Care Reform Strategy (2022-2032), the policy aims to align Kenya’s child welfare system with global best practices and international commitments. The strategy rests on three pillars: preventing child-family separation, expanding alternative care options like kinship care and foster parenting, and reintegrating children into their communities. The government aims to transition 70% of children in institutional care to family-based environments by 2027.

Currently, Kenya has 902 charitable children’s institutions accommodating approximately 44,070 minors, along with 30 statutory facilities caring for 1,443 children. The new initiative seeks to significantly reduce reliance on residential facilities while bolstering families to ensure safe and stable home environments. Kenya reaffirmed its vision at the 2024 Global Ministerial Conference on Children, committing to phasing out orphanages in favour of a localised care approach.

While the policy has broad support, concerns remain about its implementation. A founder of a children’s home in Kiambu County cautions against rushing the process, emphasising the need for proper planning to ensure children’s welfare remains a top priority. Critics have raised questions about the feasibility of families absorbing the influx of children needing care, citing widespread poverty and resource scarcity. To mitigate these risks, the government plans to scale up social support programs to enhance the capacity of families to provide nurturing environments.

The closure of private children’s homes is not new to Kenya’s child welfare policy. Two years ago, authorities announced plans to phase out privately run institutions due to child trafficking concerns. Then-Labour and Social Protection Cabinet Secretary Florence Bore affirmed that only government-run homes under the Child Welfare Society of Kenya would remain operational. As Kenya restructures its child welfare services, the focus will be on ensuring that the transition prioritises the needs of the children it seeks to protect.