Charitable children’s institutions have been urged to redirect their resources from children's homes to the community and families.
This will expand community outreach activities and see more children reunited with their families. The Department of Children's Services seeks to increase family-based care.
The government initiative will unite street children, lost children and those in conflict areas with their family, relatives or alternative family.
In the wake of Covid-19, increasing poverty has seen some parents abandon their children and the number of street children is on the rise.
Three out of every 10 street children left home in search of an income and one in every 10 in search of food, according to the Department of Social Protection.
Labour Cabinet Secretary Simon Chelugui says support for children in family-based care options remains the most suitable.
“Placement of children in care institutions, then, must be focused towards exit either by reintegration or placement in other family-based care initiatives,” Chelugui said.
Where children have families, all efforts should be made to strengthen the families to take in their children.
"Institutional care providers should ensure that other family-based care options are first explored before a child is placed in an institution. It should be the last resort," Shem Nyakutu, Secretary Department for Children's Services, said.
Edited by Henry Makori
