The Child Welfare Society of Kenya (CWSK) is set to receive an additional Sh300 million in the 2026/2027 Financial Year after the National Assembly Committee on Social Protection successfully pushed for increased funding to strengthen child protection, education, and rescue programmes for vulnerable children.
The committee is also advocating for government employment opportunities for graduates from children’s homes.
The allocation will raise CWSK’s budget to Sh500 million, up from Sh200 million in the 2025/2026 financial year.
Committee Chairperson Alice Ng’ang’a said that despite the prevailing fiscal constraints, the committee persuaded the Head of State to approve the increased funding to ensure children under the care of CWSK receive adequate support.
“In the 2026/2027 Financial Year, we have allocated Sh0.5 billion to CWSK. A week ago, I met with the Budget Committee, and everything is in order. We are now waiting for CS Mbadi to announce it when he presents the budget statement in Parliament in June,” said Ng’ang’a during the committee’s visit to Mji wa Salama Children’s Home in Mombasa.
“CWSK, we heard you loud and clear when you said you needed more funding. We came to assess the situation, and as a committee, we have approved Sh0.5 billion because CWSK serves children across the country. Even those in boarding schools return to these homes during school holidays,” she added.
Ng’ang’a noted that the President approved the additional funds amid rising concerns over cases of missing children. She also called for increased parental responsibility through training and awareness programmes.
“Do not trust just anyone, even if it is someone you know. CWSK has a responsibility to engage parents on ways to protect their children,” she said.
Kapenguria MP Samuel Moroto called for a Presidential directive to facilitate the employment of youths raised in children’s homes, similar to an initiative introduced by the late President Mwai Kibaki that enabled hundreds of street children in Nairobi to join the National Youth Service and later secure jobs in the disciplined forces.
“We want to see a similar intervention from President Ruto because bribery has increased, and these young people often lack money to bribe,” he said, adding that there should be a dedicated employment pathway for graduates from orphanages.
Committee Vice Chairperson Hilary Kosgei supported the proposal, saying there was a need to compile a database of graduates from children’s homes and their qualifications to enable engagement with the Public Service Commission for employment opportunities.
Kosgei said the graduates could form an alumni network to support the institutions that nurtured them.
“Even if there are only 50 graduates, the government is large enough to absorb them. A society that fails to care for its most vulnerable members cannot adequately care for the rest,” he said.
Mombasa Woman Representative Zamzam Mohamed urged the committee to engage the Ministry of Health to ensure all children living in orphanages are enrolled in Taifa Care under the Social Health Authority.
She also called on the management of children’s homes to install CCTV cameras to improve surveillance and enhance children’s safety. Mohamed further urged children to promptly report cases of exploitation and abuse.
By Sadik Hassan
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