CONTRIBUTORS
Linda Oloo
Research Officer
MARGARET NAMPIJJA
Research Scientist
Patricia Kitsao-Wekulo
Head of Early Childhood Development (ECD)
By Charity Waweru-Mwangi, Linda Oloo, Alvin Kimani, Margaret Nampijja and Patricia Wekulo
Kisumu County has been engaged in conversations with different stakeholders to improve the quality of childcare for children below the age of three years. The County has, in previous years, stepped up campaigns to improve the health and wellbeing of children by addressing nutritional gaps, among them low levels of early breastfeeding initiation, which are estimated at 22%, and a low exclusive breastfeeding rate of 38%, according to the 2011 Multiple Cluster Indicator Survey (MICS) data . These initiatives also seek to remedy situations discussed in the 2022 Kenya Demographic and Health Survey (KDHS) findings that indicate that 49% of infants in Kenya between the ages of 6 and 23 months consume sweet beverages while 26% of children are fed unhealthy food.
Many women are forced to discontinue breastfeeding, which compromises the care of their children because of competing financial interests and needs. Breastfeeding centers provide an excellent opportunity for women to balance their economic pursuits and care duties. One potential intervention is the establishment of breastfeeding centers in workplaces, for example, one which was set up in 2022 at the Kibuye Market in Kisumu. Kibuye is one of Africa’s largest markets and a critical economic hub where many mothers earn their livelihoods. However, county policymakers are questioning whether childcare centers would provide a better alternative because of the increased support they offer working mothers. They argue that the childcare centers would promote the redistribution of care work, enhance women’s economic empowerment, and provide comprehensive nurturing care for children.
Redistribution of Care Work
The International Labor Organization estimates that women in Africa spend 3.4 more hours in unpaid care work than men. The disproportionate burden of care on women has stagnated their economic empowerment as most women tend to focus their attention on care responsibilities during their childbearing years. There are more than 800 childcare centers in the informal settlement areas of Kisumu County. A mapping conducted by Uthabiti indicates 419 centers are in Kisumu Central and 460 in Kisumu East.
The childcare facilities enable the redistribution of care work by providing professional childcare services, thus allowing mothers to focus on their work, increase productivity, and reduce the burden of balancing work and childcare. The availability of reliable childcare options also means that mothers can engage more fully in their work without regular interruptions due to child-caring responsibilities. This support may enhance their earnings and career advancement opportunities and promote financial independence.
Comprehensive Nurturing Care
Quality childcare facilities provide an excellent opportunity to encourage early learning through meaningful and structured caregiver engagements that promote brain stimulation. It is important to note that rapid brain development takes place during infancy, and proper care practices can support this growth and development. It is estimated that at birth, the average baby’s brain is about a quarter of the size of the average adult brain. It doubles in size in the first year and keeps growing to about 80% of the adult size by age 3 and 90%, which is nearly fully grown by age 5. The importance of this stage of life indicates the need for governments to prioritize and invest in early care, as the lack of proper care during early childhood can have major repercussions on children who are the future of society.
Good quality centers can offer proper nutrition and socialization opportunities in addition to early learning opportunities, contributing to holistic child development. Trained professional caregivers can support children’s diverse needs, ensuring they receive high-quality care in a safe and stimulating environment.
However, childcare centers in most parts of Kenya, and by extension, other African countries, need a lot of support to meet the standards of care, as the service being offered in most of them needs improvement. The poor quality is attributed to a lack of an implementation framework to guide the provision of care services within childcare facilities and a lack of knowledge and skills on quality childcare. The capacity-strengthening efforts of local non-governmental organizations (NGOs) involved in childcare, could result in the improvement of the skills and practices of childcare providers.
Setting up childcare centers around the Kisumu central business district, public markets, and industrial areas will help meet the requirements of the Breastfeeding Mothers Bill, 2024, which mandates the set up of lactation stations at workplaces while providing quality care to children. The childcare centers can include lactation rooms for mothers who wish to breastfeed during breaks, combining the benefits of both approaches. This hybrid model supports sustained breastfeeding while allowing mothers to benefit from professional childcare services.
Childcare facilities therefore offer a superior solution compared to breastfeeding centers in the Kibuye Market context. By investing in childcare facilities, Kisumu can create a more supportive and equitable environment for working mothers, fostering economic growth and future generations’ wellbeing.
Currently, Kisumu County is guided by the provisions of the Basic Education Act and the Early Childhood Education Act 2021 in the management and administration of childcare facilities. However, Kisumu County is yet to legislatively effect the provisions of Sections of Early Childhood Education Act, 2021 which obligates the County Government to provide and formulate programs, plans and policies that promote a positive culture and the holistic development of the child.
The Kisumu County Early Childhood Development and Education 2023 bill proposes the establishment of public childcare facilities as the best approach to promoting access to quality childcare. The bill will also provide guidelines that will provide a pathway to the operationalization of the services and relevant regulations. The bill proposes additional procedures for establishing private childcare facilities and early childhood development and education centers.
This bill will go a long way in addressing the burden of childcare for mothers in informal settlements and enhance their opportunities to participate in paid work, which, in turn, may contribute to improved nurturing care for their children. By improving the quality, consistency and availability of childcare and pre-school services in communities, young children get the best start to life, while providing working mothers peace of mind that allows them to find and keep gainful employment, and ultimately transform the overall trajectory of the family.