The world this week marked the International Day of the African Child, a moment for reflection, celebration, and renewal of our collective commitment to children's rights.
In Kenya, we are fortunate to have a government that is serious about children's welfare, led by the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection through its State Department for Children's Services.
This department plays a crucial role in developing policy, allocating resources and delivering programmes that directly affect children's well-being.
This year's theme, Planning and Budgeting for Children's Rights: Progress Since 2010, invites us to take stock of policy wins, funding trends, and the real-world impacts these have had on children's lives.
While there have been notable improvements in school enrolment, child protection mechanisms and legislation, significant gaps remain, especially in rural areas like Nyamira and Kisii counties, where children continue to be vulnerable.
Access to quality education, healthcare and child protection services is still limited in many of these communities.
The effects of climate change, the Covid-19 pandemic and growing economic pressures further undermine children's futures, often forcing their needs to the margins of policy and funding decisions.
Children's rights should be central to all national and county-level planning and budgeting processes.
They cannot be seasonal or optional. We need resilient and sustainably funded systems that not only address today's needs but are robust enough to withstand future crises.
Meaningful child participation is equally important, ensuring children's voices are heard in decision-making, whether through child-led forums, youth parliaments or community initiatives.
When we listen to children, we design better, more responsive systems that reflect their realities.
More effort is needed on strengthening the environments in which children grow up by supporting community partners, strengthening local governance and advocating for greater accountability in the allocation of resources.
We must view investing in children not as an act of charity but as a matter of justice because a nation that plans and budgets for its children is a nation that invests in its greatest asset: its future.
Communications coordinator, International Solidarity Foundation
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