Kenya is set to take its childcare reform agenda to the United Nations General Assembly as the Government seeks stronger coordination in the care of children aged below five.
The Ministry of Gender, Culture and Children Services will convene a Pan-African High-Level Dialogue on the margins of the 81st UN General Assembly.
The meeting will bring together national and county governments, childcare organisations, development partners and funders to discuss how Kenya can strengthen the delivery of quality childcare under the devolved system.
Cabinet Secretary for Gender, Culture and Children Services Hannah Cheptumo, said the Government was focused on strengthening a coordinated childcare system for children aged between zero and four years.
“The Ministry of Gender, Culture and Children Services is strengthening Kenya’s coordinated childcare system for children aged 0–4 through action at national and county levels,” the CS said.
The dialogue is expected to focus on Kenya’s reform priorities and how different actors can work together to improve childcare services across the country.
The initiative comes as the Government works on a National Care Policy aimed at regulating daycare facilities and improving the safety and welfare of children.
Principal Secretary for Children Welfare Services Carren Ageng’o said in June that the Government was collecting views from Kenyans to inform the development of standards for daycare centres before the policy goes through public participation.
The Government has also been implementing the National Care Reform Strategy for Children in Kenya, which promotes family and community-based care and seeks to reduce reliance on institutional care.
The Children Services Department says the strategy is aimed at ensuring children grow up in safe and supportive family environments.
Kenya’s care reform strategy also recognises the role of county governments in financing and implementing childcare reforms, making coordination between the two levels of government a key part of the programme.
The Pan-African dialogue will therefore provide an opportunity for Kenya to bring together the different players involved in childcare and discuss a common approach to improving services for young children.
The CS said she looked forward to discussing the Government’s reform priorities during the high-level meeting.
