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Kenyan Child Welfare Advocates Push for Increased Funding and Operationalization of Key Funds in 2025/26 Budget.

   
      Mtoto news leaders during media briefing in Nairobi, Kenya.

A coalition of 30 child-focused organizations in Kenya is calling on the government to address critical gaps in funding for child welfare services, highlighting alarming rates of violence against children and systemic underfunding. Representing a unified voice from across the country, the group has raised concerns over the stagnation of key funds and insufficient budget allocations, which they argue undermine efforts to protect children and uphold their constitutional rights.  

Among the most pressing issues is the non-operationalization of the Victim Support Fund, which currently holds Ksh 32 million but remains unused despite shocking statistics showing that one in three Kenyan children experience violence. Advocates are urging the government to reallocate these funds to the Directorate of Children Services to provide direct support to child victims. Additionally, the coalition is pushing for the immediate operationalization of the Child Welfare Fund, as mandated under Section 12(7) of the Children Act 2022. They propose an annual allocation of Ksh 1 billion, with a target of Ksh 5 billion by 2030, to strengthen community-based child protection efforts through licensed and monitored organizations.  

The State Department for Child Welfare Services has been allocated Ksh 11 billion in the 2025/26 budget, translating to just Ksh 260 per child, a figure advocates describe as grossly inadequate to cover essential services such as rescue operations, case management, and child participation programs. The coalition is demanding an additional Ksh 4.5 billion for the Directorate of Children Services to address these gaps. They also emphasize the need for increased funding for the National Council for Children Services, whose current budget of Ksh 81 million falls short of fulfilling its 24 statutory mandates. An extra Ksh 70 million, they argue, would enable the council to expand its presence from five to all 47 counties and develop crucial legal frameworks, including child participation guidelines.  

Beyond financial allocations, the coalition is advocating for systemic changes to ensure children’s voices are included in governance. With 26 million Kenyans under the age of 18, children constitute the majority of the population, yet budget processes remain adult-centric, with documents that are complex and inaccessible. The group is calling for child-friendly budget formats and dedicated funding to facilitate children’s participation in planning and decision-making.  

The coalition warns that failure to act on these recommendations will perpetuate the neglect of children’s rights, with long-term consequences for Kenya’s social and economic well-being. As the government finalizes the 2025/26 budget, advocates are urging the National Treasury and the National Assembly to prioritize child welfare, emphasizing that investing in children today is an investment in the nation’s future.

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