Stakeholders Demand Stricter Regulations Under Children’s Act 2022 to Combat Child Trafficking, Seek Care and Protection Orders
The government has outlined a plan to gradually eliminate children’s homes by the year 2032. The objective is to relocate vulnerable children and orphans from institutional settings and facilitate their transition into family and community-based care models before the specified deadline
Seth Masese, Director of the National Council for Children Services, speaking to the press in Eldoret
The National Council for Children Services Thursday conducted a public participation exercise in Eldoret regarding seven regulations that will operationalize the Children Act 2022,” announced Seth Masese,the Director at the National Council for Children Services.
“We have other teams conducting public participation in other areas of the country. The draft regulations seek to address,governance , financial and devolution of services regarding the care and protection of children ,functions that are domiciled in the national government ,the regulations will set out collaboration areas with the county governments”.
Caroline Meres from the Council , adding her perspective, noted, “We have received proposals from stakeholders who want the role of county governments in the care and protection of children under the act clearly defined. Some of the challenges that will be addressed by the regulations include child trafficking, which has remained one of the challenges affecting children.
“Counties are required to set up children rescue centres by the year 2032 by working closely with the Cabinet Secretary in charge of children affairs,” Meres emphasized.
“A good number of counties have begun the process. These rescue centres are important in the provision of the right care and protection of children, especially when we experience calamities such as the recent flooding. Children suffer immensely; hence, such rescue centres will ensure our children receive special and specific interventions.”
A group of stakeholders engaged in the public participation exercise
Other stakeholders, including Uasin Gishu County government officials, called for the establishment of standalone or distinct management of rescue centres with properly skilled staff to actualize the care reforms.
Esther Serem, a former manager at the Eldoret rescue centre and the Deputy Director Gender and Community Development Uasin Gishu County, emphasized the need for the regulations to stress the necessity for committal orders for all children to rescue centres and other homes. This, she argued, would ensure proper care, protection, and accountability for all children.
Juma Akumu, a former street-connected person, advocated for proper funding and ensuring county governments co-own the processes coordinated by the national government in operationalizing care reforms for children under the Children’s Act 2022.
This move is to ensure a smooth transition of children in need of care in various institutions to family and community-based care. Under the draft regulations, children in need of care will be expected to stay in rescue centres for at least six months before their transition.
The government has outlined a plan to gradually eliminate children’s homes by the year 2032. The objective is to relocate vulnerable children and orphans from institutional settings and facilitate their transition into family and community-based care models before the specified deadline
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