Journalists and media practitioners based in Kiambu, Meru and Murang’a Counties have been trained on child care reforms in a bid to sensitize them on the role of the media in reporting on children reforms as outlined in the Children’s Act 2022.
The two days training held in Murang’a also aimed at familiarizing the participants with the Children’s Act 2022 renamed Children Act CAP 141.
In collaboration with the Directorate of Children Services, the NCCS, Local implementing Partners under the Legacy 4 Children (L4C) have been implementing care reform in the three counties of Meru, Kiambu and Murang’a.
The intercounty journalists training brought together partners and various stakeholders including the Local implementing partners like Stahili foundation, Uweza care, (Meru Children and Children Adult Welfare (MECAWE), Catholic Diocese of Meru, Catholic Diocese of Murang’a, GEEP Kenya and Child in Family Focus Kenya (CFFK)’.
NCCS representative Janet Mwema noted that the children’s act focuses and encourages family-based care through fostering, adoption, custody, guardianship, kinship care and kafaalah and it is paramount for media practitioners to be sensitized on the same.
“The children’s Act recommends transitioning from charitable children’s institutions (CCI) to Alternative care placement and journalists have a role to play in sensitizing the society so as to strengthen this vital reform,” she observed.
The three pillars of care reform include family strengthening and prevention of separation, Alternative care and tracing, reintegration and transitioning to family and community-based care under the Care Reform strategy 2024.
“Alternative care should only be considered when absolutely necessary and that children receive the most suitable support to meet their unique individual needs thereby upholding the best interests of the child,” she said.
She noted that neglect still features as the top leading form of child abuse in the country.
Murang’a County Coordinator for Children Services Peter Nseva urged the media practitioners to stress on the need to strengthen families and prevent separation for the well- being of children who are bound to suffer the most incase families separate in their daily reporting.
“Care reforms are meant to increase high quality and accessible tracing, reintegration, case management, leaving care and aftercare services to support transition to family and community-based care,” he noted
Although the National Foster Care Day is normally celebrated annually every first Tuesday of May, Murang’a county plans to celebrate it on October 15, being the first ever celebrated.
The day will also serve as a launch of the National Foster Care Day, after which it will be celebrated as in other parts of the world.
Kiambu County will mark the foster care week on October 16 to October18 and subsequently celebrate the day of foster care day on October 19.
Meru County on the other hand will celebrate the Day of Foster Care on Oct 4 at the Cathedral grounds in Meru.
Prior to the celebrations, training of newly recruited foster parents is expected to take place in those selected counties.
By Florence Kinyua
