Advancing child protection, civic participation and community empowerment
April was a busy and impactful month for Baridi Kwa Baridi Women CBO as we continued advancing child protection, civic engagement, positive parenting, youth empowerment and stakeholder collaboration across Busia County.
Positive Parenting Capacity Building
From 1st to 3rd April 2026, representatives from Baridi Kwa Baridi Women CBO, including the Executive Director and members of staff, participated in a three-day Positive Parenting Training sponsored by the state department for Gender and Affirmative Action. The training equipped participants with practical skills and knowledge on nurturing positive relationships between parents and children. Given the growing importance of positive parenting approaches in child protection and family strengthening, the organization prioritized staff participation to ensure our team is well-positioned to support communities and facilitate future learning opportunities.
Participation in the County Children Advisory Committee Meeting
On 2nd April, the organization participated in the County Children Advisory Committee (CAC) meeting held at the County Commissioner’s Conference Hall. The meeting brought together the Busia county Not Invisible Anymore (NIA) partners, government departments, development partners, teachers, parents and members of the Busia County Children’s Assembly.
Key discussions focused on planning activities for the Day of the African Child (DAC), the launch of the Busia County Children’s Assembly, and the renaming of Amukura Orphanage. The meeting reinforced the importance of multi-stakeholder collaboration in promoting children’s rights and welfare in Busia County.
Ward-Level Development Planning Engagement
On 10th April, Baridi Kwa Baridi Women CBO participated in an introductory and planning meeting convened by the Devolution and Climate Change Adaptation(DaCCA) at the Bukhayo West Ward Administrator’s Office. The meeting brought together representatives from civil society organizations, extension officers and farmers to discuss ward-level development priorities and collaborative interventions aimed at improving community livelihoods through evidence based advocacy on climate change adaptation and agroecology In Bukhayo West Ward.
Promoting Peace Through Sports
Also on 10th April, the organization participated in a community sports event aimed at countering violence and extremism while strengthening relationships between security agencies and local communities. The event, facilitated by KOICA and UNDP, brought together government officers, security personnel, civil society organizations and community members. Winning teams received sports kits and equipment, including footballs and volleyballs, to encourage continued community engagement through sports.
Supporting Continuous Voter Registration
Throughout April, Baridi Kwa Baridi Women CBO actively participated in several stakeholder forums organized to support the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Enhanced Continuous Voter Registration (ECVR) exercise.
On 14th April, the organization attended a county stakeholder forum that brought together government officials including the governor ,youth representatives, security agencies and development partners to explore strategies for increasing voter registration across Busia County.
On 20th April, the organization participated in the Matayos Constituency Civic Dialogue, where stakeholders reviewed voter registration progress and encouraged greater public participation. Additional voter sensitization activities were conducted during public barazas, where young people collecting national identification cards were encouraged to register as voters.
Public Participation on the draft County Budget Estimates for FY 2026/2027
On 22nd April, Baridi Kwa Baridi Women CBO participated in a public participation forum on the Busia County Budget Estimates FY 2026/2027 held at Matayos VTC under the Busia Communities of Practice initiative.
Key concerns included high administrative spending compared to development priorities, inadequate investment in health (especially preventive care, maternal and child health and youth-friendly services), lack of gender allocations including child protection centres and limited youth funding for sports, talent development, and empowerment programs.
Persons with disabilities highlighted exclusion from decision-making processes and lack of accessibility measures such as interpreters during forums. Governance concerns were raised over high administrative expenditure compared to key sectors such as agriculture, roads and trade, as well as questions on duplication of roles and value for money. Education gaps included absence of funding for ECDE feeding programs and inclusive education for learners with disabilities.
Despite these concerns, participants noted progress as some earlier public participation recommendations from the CFSP were reflected in the budget estimates, showing improved responsiveness from the county government.
Addressing Exploitative Child Domestic Work and Human Trafficking
On 23rd and 24th April, the organization participated in a sensitization and dialogue workshop organized by Amka Africa Justice Initiative on Exploitative Child Domestic Work (ECDW) and Human Trafficking. The workshop brought together law enforcement officers, community policing members, civil society organizations and project beneficiaries.
Discussions focused on human rights, human trafficking, domestic work, employment laws, survivor support mechanisms and legal protection frameworks. Key highlight of the workshop was the revelation that not all children are pushed into Child domestic work due to poverty rather, parents and relatives neglect and fail in their duty to care. The workshop strengthened collaboration among stakeholders working to protect vulnerable children and young people from exploitation by equipping them with skills on how to identify, respond to and prevent exploitative child domestic work as well as to provide legal guidance and sensitisation to survivors.
Contributing to Skills Development and Employment Dialogue
On 24th April, the organization participated in a Community Dialogue Forum convened by ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ on Influencing Investment in TVET through Partnerships, Funding & Inclusion under the ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ฉ๐ซ๐จ๐ ๐ซ๐๐ฆ in Busia.
The engagement brought together key stakeholders; including government, private sector, TVET institutions, CSOs and young women, to reflect on the current TVET landscape, identify barriers to access and inclusion and explore practical pathways for strengthening investment and impact.
Discussions focused on policy direction, funding priorities, industry needs, investment opportunities, training challenges, student support systems and pathways for linking young people to employment opportunities.
Gender Technical Working Group Meeting
On 30th April, Baridi Kwa Baridi participated in a ๐๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ข๐ ๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ง๐ญ๐ฒ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ Stakeholders. Among the key agenda items was the introduction of Mildmay Kenya and Y+ Plus as new partners in Busia County. Their programs focus on adolescents, young women, youth living with HIV, fishing communities and access to justice initiatives. The engagement brought together key actors to ๐ฌ๐ญ๐ซ๐๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ง ๐๐จ๐จ๐ซ๐๐ข๐ง๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง, ๐ฌ๐ก๐๐ซ๐ ๐ฉ๐ซ๐จ๐ ๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ข๐๐๐ง๐ญ๐ข๐๐ฒ ๐ฉ๐ซ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐๐๐ฅ ๐ฉ๐๐ญ๐ก๐ฐ๐๐ฒ๐ฌ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐๐ง๐ก๐๐ง๐๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ฉ๐ซ๐๐ฏ๐๐ง๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐๐ง๐ ๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐ฉ๐จ๐ง๐ฌ๐ ๐ฌ๐๐ซ๐ฏ๐ข๐๐๐ฌ ๐๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ง๐ญ๐ฒ.
Key discussions centered on improving referral pathways, strengthening survivor-centered approaches, enhancing data management and reporting and reinforcing multi-sectoral collaboration among health, legal and community systems. The meeting also provided an important platform to reflect on ongoing efforts, emerging challenges and opportunities to better serve vulnerable populations, especially women, girls and adolescents.
Continued Support for Beneficiaries
Throughout April, beneficiaries under the Not Invisible Anymore Project continued receiving practical vocational training through tailoring and salon courses. These skills development activities are designed to provide vulnerable girls and boys with sustainable livelihood opportunities, contributing to long-term economic empowerment and reducing vulnerability to exploitation.
Conclusion
April highlighted strong progress in community engagement, child protection, civic participation and policy advocacy. The organization remains committed to strengthening partnerships and ensuring inclusive, people-centered development across Busia County. We thank our partners, stakeholders, community members and beneficiaries for their continued support and collaboration.
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