Government-run Kisii County Children's home
Does the Government really care?
by Eric Bosire • 23 November 2023
It’s the prerogative of any government to ensure the social and economic well-being of its people. As much as Kenyan citizens should take care of themselves, the government has a responsibility to make sure that the environment is conducive to live in. It is for this purpose that Kenyans pay taxes.
The people who are abled differently, the orphans and the elderly deserve to be given more attention by the government. However, according to Luke*, who has started an orphanage as a personal initiative, this is not the case. He said that he runs the orphanage, because the government does not care for the kids. “The government actually charges us to run the orphanage and that’s why even foreigners come to Kenya to assist the kids,” said the orphanage owner. “In 2022 the US government gave 323 million dollars to Kenya for humanitarian relief which in my opinion would include orphans but we did not get anything,” he added.
Upon paying the registration fees and other charges the government issues a certificate of registration which should be displayed in the orphanage. “The government officers make impromptu visits to orphanages and if they find that everything is not done accordingly, they can harass you, worst case scenario they jail you and impose penalties,” said Luke.
The orphanage owner has done nothing about it, he doesn’t know where to run to, even for helping the kids he depends on donations from friends. He prefers not to say much about government oppression for fear of victimization. He wonders why the government has put strict measures to run orphanages even though the orphanages are actually helping the government to do its work.
On further pursuing this matter, I visited some other orphanages to ascertain whether they are in the same predicament. To my surprise, most orphanage managers expressed the opposite opinion, they have no issue with the government. I have some doubts however, because it is possible that they might be scared of the government. Some might be hiding their wrong doings, therefore they would hypocritically say something that will not get them in trouble.
Gesare*, who is one of the orphanage managers that I talked to, said that they had no problem with the government and noted that the government officers’ visits are necessary to ensure proper running of orphanages and children’s homes in Kenya. “First and foremost we are not being harassed by the government. The government has been working tirelessly and effortlessly with us to ensure the children's needs are being met. Secondly the government does everything in the best interest of the children so the issue of being harassed by the government is a shock to me. We are working under the authority of the government and this is enough reason to prove that the government is working closely with us,” said Gesare.
The private-run orphanages rely on donations from well-wishers, friends and the corporate world to take care of the children’s needs. Through what they receive, the children are able to access basic needs and education.
The government on their part, through the children’s department, is categorical that it is their mandate to make sure that children homes and orphanages are run well. The children’s officer in the Kisii children’s office said that in regards to registration, it is mandatory for the orphanages in Kenya to be registered with the government and meet the required standards. “Registering an orphanage is not simple as people think, a stakeholder meeting is held, minutes taken, then if the applicant meets law requirements, a certificate is issued,” said the children officer.
The children’s officer said that the government has not neglected the children because they take care of vulnerable kids through government-run children’s homes that are across the country. “Claims by orphanage owners that the government does nothing about the needy children is false.”
The reason why government officers make impromptu visits to orphanages is not only to check registration status but to make sure all the requirements are followed. “Some cases of child trafficking have been reported through some orphanages and some people take advantage of the children to solicit money from people,” said the children's officer.
The children's officer said that The Cabinet Secretary for Labour and Social Protection gave a statement that all private children's homes that do not meet requirements of the law as mandated by the Children’s Act of 2022 must close within eight years.2
Luke did not take this news well, “this will never work, first of all many things change in 8 years, second who is going to take care of the kids? The community, really? I do not believe it for a second. Maybe if the government took some of the money that gets donated for humanitarian relief to actual humans instead of pocketing it, things could get better,” he said.
Gesare said, “on the issue of orphanage closure this is a gradual process that didn't just start yesterday, it's something that we are looking towards and I believe even with the new care reform we will still be able to reach out to the children,” she said.
Next: What’s in a title?, by Eric Bosire.
Notes:
* Luke and Gesare are not the real names of the orphanage managers.
2 https://www.kenyanews.go.ke/bore-reaffirms-closure-deadline-for-private-childrens-homes back
About the author:
Eric Bosire is a Kenyan Journalist. He is based in Kisii.
About the image:
Photo by Eric Bosire.
Suggested citation:
Eric Bosire: Does the Government really care? MissionField News (ISSN 2813-2270)
https://missionfield.news/2023/23_Government
2023-11-23.