Kenya

Our comprehensive child care reform model will be reproduced in at least two regions out of eight (Eastern Region and Rift Valley), covering approximately 50% of the children placed in institutions in Kenya.
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The care landscape in Kenya
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Poverty, conflict, food insecurity, domestic violence and climate shocks are putting enormous pressure on caregivers struggling with basic needs; institutions are often seen as a solution.

In Kenya, institutions are privately run, donor-funded, often unregulated and operating independently of the national child protection system, which makes family reunification difficult.

Traditional responses are often fragmented, donor-driven, and unsustainable, with limited reach to the families most at risk of separation.

 

Above: Despite a difficult start to his childhood, Dennis, aged 7, was able to stay safely in family care through the support of social care professionals who had undertaken Lumos’ specialist training.
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Over 40,000

children were living in 902 institutions in Kenya in 2024.

 

48%

of children living in institutions are in the Eastern and Rift Valley regions.

 

Nearly half of girls and more than half of boys

experience some form of violence, often from parents or caregivers.

 
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Building a model for care reform in Kenya

 

Our beginnings

In 2019, Lumos began working with the Government of Kenya and strategic partners to strengthen the national child protection system.

Since then, Kenya has developed and adopted an ambitious National Care Reform Strategy (2022–2032), recognising that children thrive best in families. Through Lumos’ technical guidance, the strategy now provides a national roadmap for ending systemic reliance on institutions and achieving the Government’s target of reducing the number of children in residential care by 70%, from 44,070 to 13,221.

 

Our work

In Embu County, we work with authorities to embed approaches within public infrastructure for lasting change. The model is a locally led approach to care reform that strengthens families, prevents unnecessary family separation, and supports children to grow up in safe and loving families.

The Embu model has been recognised by the Government of Kenya as an effective solution for expansion and is now being scaled-up in 21 counties across the Eastern and Rift Valley regions in partnership with UNICEF.  Through expansion through local partnerships and building local capacities with authorities, we will generate the evidence required to scale nationwide with local ownership, and with integration into national public systems.
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Our care reform work in Kenya
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Supporting institutional transition

We’re advocating for and supporting the transition of residential institutions into community-based support services for families. This will significantly contribute to the government’s objective of reducing the number of children living in residential institutions by 70%.
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Training frontline professionals

We’re training frontline child protection and social service professionals, building their knowledge and expertise on family-based care so they can support families, prevent separation, train others, and build sustainable change for children.
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Launching parenting programmes

We’re helping the Government implement the National Positive Parenting Programme in four counties. Over time this will equip over 40,000 parents and caregivers to create safe, nurturing, violence-free homes.
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Strengthening welfare systems

We’re advocating for adequate government budget allocation for care reform, including the operationalisation of the Child Welfare Fund and linkage to the social welfare support for at risk families.
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Our care reform work in Kenya
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Supporting institutional transition

We’re advocating for and supporting the transition of residential institutions into community-based support services for families. This will significantly contribute to the government’s objective of reducing the number of children living in residential institutions by 70%.
S8R2C1

Training frontline professionals

We’re training frontline child protection and social service professionals, building their knowledge and expertise on family-based care so they can support families, prevent separation, train others, and build sustainable change for children.
S8R2C2

Launching parenting programmes

We’re helping the Government implement the National Positive Parenting Programme in four counties. Over time this will equip over 40,000 parents and caregivers to create safe, nurturing, violence-free homes.
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Strengthening welfare systems

We’re advocating for adequate government budget allocation for care reform, including the operationalisation of the Child Welfare Fund and linkage to the social welfare support for at risk families.
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