Garissa: The State Department for Children Services has announced its commitment to enhancing systems aimed at protecting and empowering children from their formative years. Children Welfare Services Principal Secretary, Carren Achieng Ageng’o, highlighted the ongoing issues of violence faced by children in homes, schools, and communities nationwide.

According to Kenya News Agency, PS Ageng’o underscored that a significant number of children suffer from neglect, go missing, or suffer silently due to inadequate protection systems and the lack of responsive care. This statement was part of her keynote address at the 6th National Early Childhood Stakeholders’ Conference held in Garissa, which gathered stakeholders, partners, and participants from various counties.

PS Ageng’o pointed out that available data indicates only 67 percent of children aged between 3 to 5 in Kenya are enrolled in Early Childhood Development and Education (ECDE) programs, leaving over one-third without structured early learning opportunities. She expressed concern over the high rates of neglect, malnutrition, and harmful traditional practices affecting children in rural and informal settlements, which detrimentally impact their growth and development.

According to the 2019 Kenya Population and Housing Census, there are over 4.1 million children under five in Kenya, many of whom still lack access to quality care, nutrition, or stimulation. The Violence Against Children Survey (2019) highlighted that 1 in 2 children in Kenya experience physical violence before reaching 18, and nearly 1 in 5 girls face sexual violence during childhood, often by familiar adults in their environments. These cases frequently go unreported.

PS Ageng’o emphasized the urgency for stakeholders to move beyond addressing individual cases and focus on systemic reforms, stating that strengthening childcare involves creating an environment where children are visibly protected and supported for growth.

Garissa Governor Nathif Jama acknowledged the progress made in ECDE within ASAL counties, attributing it to devolution. He recalled the poor learning conditions when he assumed office in 2013, such as children studying under trees and in dilapidated structures, and noted improvements due to investments in new infrastructure.

Governor Jama stressed that child protection and early childhood development require coordinated systems encompassing family, health services, community structures, and national platforms to ensure children’s safety and well-being. He pointed out that fragmented systems delay responses and leave many children, especially those aged 0-3 and those with disabilities, invisible in data.

The conference’s theme, ‘Promoting Transformative Systemic Change in a Child’s Ecosystem,’ aims to engage ECD practitioners, researchers, policymakers, and leaders in evidence-based dialogue, policy innovation, and strategic partnerships to enhance the quality and accessibility of early childhood services throughout Kenya.