In this piece, Billy Mijungu, a seasoned practitioner in public policy and governance, draws attention to Kenya's often-overlooked child protection institutions, rescue centres, remand homes, and rehabilitation schools. Reflecting on their systemic challenges, Mijungu calls for urgent investment in data systems, infrastructure, and policy implementation to ensure no vulnerable child is left behind.

In the quiet corridors of policy and public service, there exists a network of institutions that do not shout for attention, yet bear the heaviest burden in shaping our children's future. These are not the high towers of power or the bustling centres of commerce, but rather the rescue centres, remand homes, rehabilitation schools, and charitable children's institutions that cradle the most vulnerable members of our society.

These institutions, rooted in our nation's history since the early 1900s, have evolved through colonial administration, post-independence reforms, and recent legislative advancements. Today, they operate under the Directorate of Children Services mandate, working diligently to uphold the rights and dignity of children needing care, protection, and rehabilitation.

Yet for all their importance, these institutions remain significantly under-resourced.

The Children Act of 2022 ushered in a more enlightened approach to child protection, advocating for diversion from punitive systems, restorative justice, and community-based care. The Act also formally established critical structures, including Children's Rescue Centres, Remand Homes, Rehabilitation Schools, and Charitable Children's Institutions. These facilities, in theory, should be well-resourced hubs of care, guidance, and social transformation. In bridging the Gap Between Policy and Practice, they often struggle to operate due to limited budgets, understaffing, and insufficient infrastructure.

These challenges are compounded by a fundamental gap undermining effective planning and service delivery: the lack of accurate, up-to-date data on children in these institutions. Without knowing exactly how many children are in Statutory and Charitable Children Institutions at any given time, planning adequately, allocating resources efficiently, or assessing the true scope of need becomes nearly impossible.

There is an urgent need to conduct a comprehensive enumeration exercise across all Statutory and Community Child Institutions in the country. Every child within these institutions must be identified, registered, and entered into a reliable national database. This will ensure that every child is accounted for and allow the government and its partners to track the outcomes of rehabilitation programs, monitor reintegration efforts, and ensure no child falls through the cracks.

Digitisation has brought progress, with over 500 officers already trained in the enhanced Child Protection Information Management System. Rehabilitation programs have been introduced, equipping hundreds of children with life skills, job readiness, and even technical training such as solar installation. Some children have sat for national exams, and others have been placed in apprenticeships. Despite this progress, much more remains to be done.

Thankfully, a renewed sense of hope has emerged. The formation of the Children Welfare Services as a fully-fledged State Department under the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection marks a significant milestone. Under the stewardship of CPA Carren Ageng'o, this new State Department brings leadership, clarity, and a bold vision to the child protection sector. It offers a platform to rally stakeholders, unlock funding, and build sustainable systems that genuinely serve the needs of our children.

To realise this vision, we must increase budget allocations to children's institutions, invest in capacity building, strengthen data systems, and expand community-based rehabilitation models. The success of these institutions is not just a moral imperative; it is a strategic investment in Kenya's future.

The Directorate of Children's Services has laid the foundation. The new State Department now carries the torch. Let us walk with them, resource these institutions, register every child, and ensure no child is forgotten.

Let us not fail the institutions that never fail our children.

Proofreading by Jackson Otukho, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.

Source: TUKO.co.ke