Stakeholders have called on both the National and County governments to allocate adequate resources toward children’s welfare, emphasizing the need to protect their rights and ensure access to education, healthcare, and social services. The call was made during the commemoration of the Day of the African Child held at the Approved Grounds in Kakamega.
Speaking at the event, Jackline Masicha, the County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Social Services, Youth, Sports, Gender, Culture and Library Services, highlighted Kakamega County’s commitment to child welfare. She revealed that the county government has set aside Ksh 8 million to support children through various initiatives.
“We are looking at having a children’s rescue center so that the rights of children are protected and their basic needs are well taken care of,” said Masicha.
She also noted that the county, in collaboration with development partners, is conducting community sensitization campaigns to curb child abuse and ensure that parents are more engaged in their children’s upbringing.
However, Masicha expressed concern over the rising cases of child labor in the county, warning that it poses a significant threat to the healthy development of children.
Chrispinus Shamwama, Programme Manager for Women in Water and Natural Resources Conservation (WWANC), echoed these concerns and stressed the importance of including children in budget planning processes.
“We are simply encouraging and insisting that budgets must capture issues of children,” he said. Shamwama urged the government to invest in strengthening family structures through economic empowerment, which would enable parents to better care for their children.
Importantly, he called for an inclusive approach to budgeting where children themselves are educated about budgeting and involved in identifying their needs.
“Let children bring out their issues, let them know there is something called a budget and that the government plans and allocates funds for them,” he emphasized.
The event underscored the urgent need for comprehensive, child-centered planning and budgeting that prioritizes children’s voices, needs, and rights across Kenya.
