A significant media engagement session organized by Child in Family Focus Kenya took place today at the Kiambu County Commissioner’s Office. The event brought together journalists from various media houses, child protection stakeholders, and government officials to discuss the ongoing care reforms in Kenya and the vital role of accurate and ethical storytelling in shaping the future of child care.
The gathering highlighted the national shift toward family and community-based care models, as outlined in the National Care Reform Strategy (2022–2032). This approach prioritizes keeping children in safe, nurturing family environments rather than relying on institutional care.
June Wachira, the Children’s Officer at the State Department for Children Services in Githunguri Kiambu, delivered a comprehensive presentation on the principles and progress of child protection reforms. She explained that the aim of child protection principles is to achieve survival, right to development, protection and participation. Wachira shared key data from Kiambu, noting that neglect accounts for the largest share of child protection cases, followed by custody disputes, abandonment, truancy, violence, defilement, orphanhood, destitution, and various other concerns.
She emphasized that ‘the central goal of these reforms is to strengthen families and prevent unnecessary separation by empowering communities, providing targeted support services, and promoting alternatives such as kinship care, foster care, adoption, and family reintegration’.
Violet Otindo, Deputy Director of Information in Kiambu, addressed the journalists on the importance of ethical reporting in child care matters. She pointed out the powerful influence of media narratives, stating that “a single story about a child can inform the public, influence policy and change lives but it can also expose a child, reinforce stigma or cause lifelong harm.” Otindo urged media practitioners to carry the responsibility of protecting children’s identities and dignity while handling vulnerable cases with care and sensitivity.
The session was attended by ACC Grace Wairimu, representing the County Commissioner, along with other key stakeholders. Participants noted that Kiambu County currently has over 3,000 children living in more than 120 Charitable Children’s Institutions, underscoring both the scale of the challenge and the pressing need to accelerate the transition to family-based care.
This media forum forms part of broader national efforts under the Legacy for Children (L4C) Program and ongoing partnerships with the State Department for Children Services. By equipping journalists with accurate information and clear ethical guidelines, the organizers aim to encourage responsible coverage that supports policy advancement and builds greater community awareness around child welfare.
Child in Family Focus Kenya remains committed to championing reforms that ensure orphaned and vulnerable children grow up in loving families.
Stakeholders at the event called for sustained collaboration between government agencies, civil society organizations, and the media to drive forward child protection and care reforms across Kiambu and the rest of Kenya.
