A delegation from the National Assembly’s Departmental Committee on Social Protection has raised serious concerns over the state of child welfare services in Kilifi County following inspections of key justice and care institutions, including the Kilifi Children’s Court and the Malindi Children’s Remand Home.
Led by Vice Chairperson Hillary Kosgei, the committee from the Parliament of Kenya toured the facilities to assess service delivery and infrastructure gaps affecting children in conflict with the law and vulnerable groups.
At the Kilifi Children’s Court, officials highlighted critical shortages including inadequate child-friendly courtrooms, insufficient children’s officers, and limited funding to support victims and case management. The Judiciary also noted the absence of budgetary allocation for feeding children during court proceedings, a gap lawmakers said requires urgent legal and policy review.
Lawmakers further expressed concern over the lack of safe shelters for Gender-Based Violence survivors after rescue, describing it as a major protection gap in the county’s social support system.
A subsequent visit to the Malindi Children’s Remand Home revealed what MPs described as deplorable conditions. Of particular concern was the absence of formal education services for children held in remand, with legislators warning that prolonged legal processes were undermining children’s right to education.
“We must defend children’s rights to education, whether they are offenders or not,” said Owen Baya. “As long as they have not been convicted, they are entitled to formal learning.”
He added that delays in the justice system were effectively denying children access to schooling for extended periods.
Earlier, during a courtesy call at the Kilifi County Commissioner’s office, the delegation assured stakeholders that child protection and welfare programs would receive increased budgetary attention in the 2026/2027 financial year. The committee emphasized that social protection is as critical to national development as physical infrastructure.
“It may be a drop in the ocean, but it’s a step in the right direction,” said Vice Chairperson Kosgei, noting that more resources were being pushed toward support programs for women, children, and vulnerable persons.
Stakeholders present included officials from the Women Enterprise Fund, the National Gender and Equality Commission, the State Department for Children Services, and the State Department for Gender and Affirmative Action, alongside civil society groups working in the region.
The committee also flagged broader social challenges affecting the county, including gender-based violence, poverty, child exploitation, substance abuse, and cases of violence against the elderly—issues they said remain underreported due to fear and silence within communities.
“There is need to strengthen communication channels and awareness systems so that these issues are properly reported and addressed,” said James K’Oyoo.
The committee is expected to compile its findings and push for policy and budgetary reforms aimed at improving child protection services nationwide.
