Community stakeholders on Day 2 of a sensitization forum at Word of Faith Church in Kiambu Town renewed their commitment to Kenya’s child care reform, emphasizing tracing, reintegration, and inclusive family support.
The two-day Community Champions on Care Reform Forum, organised by Child in Family Focus Kenya (CFFK) in partnership with the State Department for Children Services and partners under the Legacy for Children (L4C) Programme, continued on its second day with focused sessions on practical implementation of family-centred care.
Davis Nyakundi, consultant at WezaCare Solutions, took participants through the third pillar of the National Care Reform Strategy tracing, reintegration, and transitioning.
He reiterated the urgent need to move children away from institutional care and back into nurturing family environments where they can receive personalised love, stability, and holistic development.
“Children belong in families, not institutions,” Nyakundi emphasized. He challenged churches, local leaders, and community members to actively participate in family tracing efforts and support smooth reintegration processes for vulnerable children.
Mary Menza, project coordinator with CFFK, wrapped up the day’s sessions by focusing on inclusivity, value creation, and continuous support for caregivers.
She urged stakeholders to view children who are differently abled primarily from a human perspective, rather than defining them by their disabilities.
Menza also tackled the persistent issue of stigma affecting both children and their caregivers.
She called for communities to walk alongside families with empathy, understanding, and practical assistance to promote dignity and full inclusion.
The event concluded with participants in high spirits and a strong resolve to carry forward the right message on family-based care. Many stakeholders registered as potential foster parents, reflecting a growing willingness in Kiambu to open homes to children in need of care.
This sensitization forms part of broader efforts to implement the National Care Reform Strategy, which seeks to strengthen families, prevent unnecessary separation of children, and transition those in institutions to safe family and community-based care.
CFFK, together with partners like WezaCare Solutions and GEEP Kenya, continues to engage community champions including chiefs and local leaders to drive sustainable change across Kiambu County.
By building awareness and mobilizing local support, such forums play a vital role in reducing reliance on institutional care and ensuring every child grows up in a loving, protective family environment.
By Kipkorir Felix
