The government has committed to ensure the rights of children are protected.
Labour and Social Protection Cabinet Secretary Florence Bore Friday said her ministry was working closely with various agencies among them Child Welfare Society of Kenya (CWSK) to promote the welfare of vulnerable children.
She was speaking when she visited CWSK’s temporary places of safety in Murang’a, Nanyuki and Isiolo.
Bore hailed rapid response efforts by the CWSK team led by CEO Irene Mureithi in rescuing children in distress and providing them with shelter, health, education, and other basic needs and services.
“I had an opportunity to sit with the Administration and staff at the facility and listen to the kind of work they put in for the rehabilitation, treatment and care of the rescued children. Children as young as a day old are given attention and nurtured. The school-going ones get an opportunity to learn as the process of reintegration continues. The institution also monitors the growth of the children to ensure progress on all fronts” she said.
“These centers are Temporary places of Safety as family is traced; my ministry is committed to ensuring the Rights of our children are protected” she added.
Family tracing
CWSK has been providing shelter and safe houses to the rescued children who, for one reason or another, have not found alternative families and have to be placed in the children homes temporarily as reintegration back to homes or another alternative is sought.
The government agency established and gazetted in 1955 has nine homes across the country catering for at least 1,200 children per day and one transit center in Lodwar.
The CS later assessed ongoing projects by CWSK which include the construction of integrated Child and Family Centres in the counties.
The visit was organised by the CWSK Board of Trustees.