Promoting child rights in Kenya - Pelastakaa Lapset ry

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emergency responses. This was in line with the Country National Welfare Policy adopted followingindependence in 1963. KNCSS under the Department of Social Services brought together stateagencies, voluntary agencies and other statutory bodies engaged in welfare activities and servicesfor coordination and planning purpose. KNCSS continued to function until the NGO CoordinationAct was passed in 1990. The Act established the NGO Registration Bureau and the NGO Councilwhich is body comprising all registered NGOs. The aim of the Bureau was to ensure self regulationby the NGOs.A case example for coordination action by KNCSS:In 1984 during the prolonged drought an international charitable organisation arrived in the countrywith the intention of working in the drought alleviation initiative. The organisation consulted withKNCSS and the Ministry of Culture and Social Services which identified for them two localities inthe eastern semi- arid region of Kenya where there was urgent need and where there were noagencies on the ground responding to the drought. The Council also linked them to a nationalagency which acted as a host and supported the international agency in all aspects of gettinggovernment approvals such as work permits. The local agency board acted as an advisory boardfor the organisation until 1991 when the organisation was registered in Kenya under the NGOCoordination Act. Without the coordination of KNCSS such an organisation would have possiblybased its work close to urban centers where there were other agencies working as often happenstoday, while ignoring the outlying areas as difficult to reach to the detriment of children in suchlocations.In the early 1990s, the District Children Advisory Committees (DCACs) were established through apresidential decree to enhance coordination of child welfare activities within districts. These werereplaced by the current Area Advisory Councils (AACs) which are anchored in law, the ChildrenAct, 2001.The phenomenal growth experienced by the children sector in Kenya over the years can be mainlyattributed to programs targeting children run by government ministries and institutions. In someinstances the programs are run in collaboration with partners.Non state actors were established prior to and after independence to complement governmentservices by providing services for needy children. They were registered under various legislations,including the Societies Act, the NGO Coordination Act as well as the Registration of DocumentsAct. Some of these pioneer organisations are still active to date and have made a huge impact inchildren’s lives and the communities these children live in. They include Child Welfare Society ofKenya (1955); Undugu Society of Kenya (1973); Starehe Boys Center and School (1959); SOSChildren Villages; and the African Network for the Prevention and Protection against Child Abuseand Neglect (ANPPCAN) Regional Office (with 21 chapters in African countries) and ANPPCANKenya Chapter.International organizations such as Save the Children members, CARE, Plan and ChristianChildren Fund (CCF; now known as Child Fund) were among pioneer organisations that set upprograms or supported local organizations. Various children’s homes, non-formal schools and faithbasedorganizations were also established, mainly at local level and registered under the Ministryof Culture and Social Services as Community Based Organisations (CBOs). Currently Charitable12
Children Institutions (CCIs – formerly called children’s homes) are required to be registered underthe CCI Regulations formulated by the National Council for Children Services (NCCS).The private sector in Kenya has for many years supported welfare activities for needy andmarginalized children such as those living and working on the streets as well as children withdisabilities. In the past, education and care facilities were the key areas of support but recentlylonger term support within the framework of corporate social responsibility (CSR) has beenadopted by corporate companies in sectors such as finance, agriculture, manufacturing, trade andcommerce. Some companies have even set up foundations to manage welfare programs targetingvulnerable groups on long term basis. They include Chandaria Foundation and SafaricomFoundation, among others.2. Current Institutional Frameworks and Programs Relevant toChildren2.1 BackgroundIn the late 1980s and 1990s the effects of Structural Adjustment Programs (SAPs) reduced statespending on welfare services and programs and this adversely affected the children sector. 1During this period, as a result of decline in state role, there was phenomenal growth of non-state/not for profit actors also in the children sector to make up for the vacuum created and the ensuingpoverty that followed the implementation of the SAPs. The same period also coincided with thesingle party rule when donor preference was to work with non state actors which were perceived asbeing more democratic and respectful of the rights of citizens. With the change of power in 2002,donors’ focus shifted towards on government programs and budget support, which led to morecompetition and restructuring among civil society.Following is a brief profile of key state and non state agencies in the children sector and some ofthe programs they undertake.2.2 Key State Actors and ProgramsThe Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Development (MGC&SD) is the primary ministryoffering services for children in need of care and protection. This is done through the Department ofChildren Services (DCS) which currently has offices at national, provincial and district levels.Volunteer Children Officers are deployed at locational level DCS coordinates and supervisesservices aimed at promoting and protecting the wellbeing of children and their families. Theprinciple focus of the DCS is on care and protection of all children as well as on rehabilitating andreintegrating child offenders. To implement its activities, the DCS on behalf of the MGC&SD worksclosely with development partners including FBOs and NGOs who complement government effortsin supporting children programs. Children officers are posted to stations at the provincial anddistrict level to support the functions.1The number of Children Offices was reduced as well as the Children Officers due to the freeze on employment in the public sector.13
Page 5: EXECUTIVE SUMMARYThe United Nations
Page 8 and 9: The team held several consultation
Page 10 and 11: KEY DEFINITIONS USED IN THIS DOCUME
Page 14 and 15: Working closely with the ministry i
Page 16 and 17: Timely development of a National Pl
Page 19 and 20: The Initial State Party Report on t
Page 21 and 22: At the end of the workshop it was a
Page 23 and 24: presentation to the Department of I
Page 25 and 26: map for the process and a standard
Page 27 and 28: Collaboration between State and Non
Page 29 and 30: after ratification and thereafter a
Page 31 and 32: 3.3 Lessons Learned Incorporating t
Page 33 and 34: stakeholders were sensitized on the
Page 35 and 36: in conformity with the Constitution
Page 37 and 38: campaigns in order to adhere to and
Page 39 and 40: Administrators such as chiefs have
Page 41: Upon finalization the Bill was hand
Page 44 and 45: Since Kenya gained independence in
Page 46 and 47: After engaging with government and
Page 48 and 49: the Rights of the Child has identif
Page 50 and 51: After input from stakeholders the G
Page 52 and 53: In the last decade, issues addresse
Page 54 and 55: 7. Conclusions and Overall Recommen
Page 56 and 57: REFERENCES1. African Charter on the
Page 58 and 59: i) The Street Families Rehabilitati
Page 60 and 61: Annex 2:Key Non State Actors and Pr
Page 62 and 63:
Annexe 3:Profile of authorsREV. AMB
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Promoting child rights in Kenya - Pelastakaa Lapset ry

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