Policy Concerns in Safeguarding Women & Children
Despite Kenya’s progress in establishing child-focused policies, such as the 2010 Constitution and the revised Children Act 2022, many children still face significant challenges. Vulnerable families and caregivers struggle to cope with the compounded effects of poverty, disease, and climate-related disasters, leaving children exposed to harm.
Weak implementation of child safeguarding and social security policies has left large numbers of children vulnerable to abuse and risky behaviors, leading to long-term negative impacts on their lives. Additionally, deeply rooted socio-cultural and gender-biased practices have hindered the protection of women and girls. These inequalities contribute to high rates of sexual abuse, femicide, and a pervasive sense of fear and uncertainty, particularly for girls, jeopardizing their futures.
Addressing these issues requires a multi-faceted approach to strengthen policy implementation, challenge harmful practices, and provide robust support systems for the most vulnerable populations.
Impact and realities on the ground
- Strained Community Support Systems
Community dialogues across five slums reveal that caregivers and support systems are under immense pressure due to the growing demands of caring for children. Many caregivers express concerns about their children’s uncertain futures as they face increased exposure to risky behaviors such as teenage pregnancies, school dropouts, drug abuse, and a pervasive sense of hopelessness.
- Rising Numbers of Street Children in Thika
As of November 2022, over 400 children aged 5 to 17 years are living on the streets of Thika town, highlighting a critical need for interventions to address their vulnerability and provide pathways to safety, education, and support.
- School Dropouts Among Girls
Lacking support systems for unplanned motherhood, many girls are forced to leave school—often their only source of a safe learning environment and daily meals. These girls must juggle caring for themselves and their babies while contributing to household incomes, often within challenging family circumstances.
- Teen Mothers Living Off Thika’s Dumpsite
A significant number of teen mothers rely on scavenging at Thika’s main dumpsite to survive. This exposes them to extremely unhygienic conditions and heightened risks of abuse, further exacerbating their vulnerability.
- Lack of Psychosocial and Mental Health Support
Teen survivors of rape, unwanted pregnancies, abortions, and social isolation face severe trauma that often leads to depression. Without proper psychosocial and mental health support, these challenges can have long-lasting effects during this critical stage of development.
- Harmful Exposure to Technology
Recent discussions with teens and youth reveal that many have unrestricted access to inappropriate content, including pornography and sexual interactions, through mobile phones, posing serious risks to their development and wellbeing.
Key Interventions to Support Vulnerable Youth and Communities
1. Comprehensive Support Systems
WEMIHS emphasizes the importance of providing holistic and age-appropriate services to address diverse needs on the ground. This includes access to sexual and reproductive health rights (SRHR) for teens and youth, mental health support, rehabilitation programs, and follow-up services to empower teen mothers with equal opportunities such as education and skill development.
2. Collaborative Service Delivery Through Watoto Wetu Network
The Watoto Wetu network, initiated by WEMIHS, creates a platform for service providers to collaborate effectively in addressing priority needs and bridging service gaps.
3. Capacity Building for Network Members
There is a critical need to strengthen the capacity of network member organizations to ensure standardized, coordinated service delivery, effective monitoring, and shared learning that can inform policy development.
4. Funding and Technical Support
Community support systems face a significant lack of funding and technical assistance. This includes the urgent need for training grassroots mentors and community-based organizations (CBOs) to sustain impactful support for vulnerable populations.
