SOS Children's Villages Kenya national director Walter Odhiambo and board chair David Obwoga during the high-level engagement meeting with members, senior management team and partners in Nairobi on Thursday /HANDOUT
SOS Children’s Villages Kenya has moved to boost child protection, holding high-level consultations with its board and international partners from the Netherlands and Denmark to finalise a new 2026–2030 strategy to chart the path forward.
The strategic meeting in Nairobi, which included newly appointed board members, reflects a deliberate commitment to strong governance, transparency and inclusive decision-making, the charity said.
At the centre of the discussion on Thursday was governance reforms and the best interests of the child.
The organisation is seeking to reposition itself for long-term sustainability and greater impact in Kenya’s child protection sector, even as global funding dynamics shift.
Board chairman David Obwoga underscored the value of honest engagement, saying, “It takes a lot of trust and healthy tension from partners to make SOS Kenya better. We appreciate the time taken to engage with our work on the ground in our villages and counties, beyond dashboards.”
He said governance reforms were already underway.
“We have tightened our board recruitment processes because we believe governance shapes the institution and must start from the top. Board tenure is guided by a transparent and accountable process. We are eager to discuss areas of collective improvement, especially within our partnership agreements with our donors.”
Financial sustainability remains a key pillar of the upcoming 2026–2030 strategy and international partners reaffirmed their backing despite tighter funding environments.
As funding dynamics shift, the organisation is seeking ways to ensure its programmes remain resilient.
Tanja IJzer, senior portfolio manager for SOS Netherlands, assured stakeholders that technical assistance and programme funding would continue even as the landscape evolves.
To support this, board member Pamela Oyugi stressed the importance of clearly defining and costing the implementation of the new organisational structure to ensure both efficiency and longevity.
On programme direction, the director of programmes Pascal Mailu reaffirmed alignment with national goals.
“We remain fully committed to implementing the national care reform strategy, which provides a roadmap for reintegration and alternative care options for children without parental care by 2032.”
Thomas Nixon Hvas, a senior project manager from SOS Denmark, reinforced this priority, stating that their support remains anchored in the best interests of the child despite a challenging global donor climate.
This child-centred approach ensures that even as the organisation evolves, its primary focus remains the welfare of vulnerable youth.
Vice chair David Kiambi highlighted the significance of deliberate dialogue during this transition period.
“There is significant change anticipated within the new strategy. It is therefore important that we are intentionally coming together to have honest conversations and co-create practical solutions with our partners.”
National director Walter Odhiambo described the moment as both timely and critical.
“This is a crucial time for SOS Children’s Villages Kenya as we navigate transition. We are committed to repositioning the organisation as a strong and sustainable institution, with the board providing oversight and partners walking this journey with us.”
SOS Children’s Villages Kenya is one of the country’s oldest child welfare organisations, with more than 50 years of operation and five villages across Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, Meru and Eldoret counties.
The new strategy is expected to prioritise stronger governance, localisation, sustainable financing and strategic partnerships to deliver lasting impact for vulnerable children and families nationwide.
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