Baridi Kwa Baridi Women CBO continues to play a key role in advancing child protection systems in Busia County through coordinated stakeholder engagement, child participation forums, and policy implementation processes supported by the Freedom Fund under the NIA (Not Invisible Anymore) programme.
Over the past reporting period, significant progress has been made in moving the Busia County Children’s Policy from approval into actionable implementation, alongside efforts to ensure that children’s voices directly shape national and county-level child labour interventions.
Stakeholder Consultative Forum: From Policy to Action (11th June 2026)
On 11th June 2026, Baridi Kwa Baridi Women CBO sponsored a Stakeholder Consultative Forum for the development of the Busia County Child Protection Policy Implementation Matrix. This marked a critical milestone nearly one year after the launch of the Busia County Children’s Policy during the Day of the African Child 2025.
The forum brought together key stakeholders including the Office of the County Commissioner, County Secretary, Directorate of Children Services, Directorate of Social Services, Office of the Attorney General, Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), development partners and civil society organizations, including NIA programme partners.
The implementation matrix is designed to guide the execution of the policy across its four core pillars:Development rights, Survival rights ,Protection rights, Participation rights.
It provides a structured framework outlining activities, outputs, timelines, responsible agencies, indicators, verification methods, and budgets, ensuring that child protection commitments are measurable and accountable.
A key outcome of the forum was the formation of a Technical Working Group to steer the development of the implementation matrix and ensure coordinated, transparent, and results-oriented implementation across all sectors.
Stakeholders emphasized that the true value of a policy lies in its implementation, with particular concern raised that the Busia County Children’s Policy had stalled for nearly two years due to the absence of a clear implementation matrix. This process is therefore expected to unlock structured action, budgeting, and coordination.
Baridi Kwa Baridi CBO, through its NIA programme, also highlighted the urgent need to address child domestic labour in Busia County, noting that the region continues to act as a source hub for child domestic workers trafficked to major urban centres such as Nairobi and Mombasa.
Acknowledgement
Baridi Kwa Baridi Women CBO extends sincere appreciation to the Freedom Fund for funding these critical initiatives under the NIA programme. Special recognition also goes to all participating stakeholders, including the Office of the County Commissioner, County Secretary, Directorate of Children Services, Directorate of Social Services, Office of the Attorney General, ODPP, Childline Kenya, ICS, Busia Beyond Crime CBO, AICS and other civil society partners for their commitment and collaboration
Conclusion
These engagements mark a significant step forward in ensuring that child protection policies in Busia County are not only developed but effectively implemented and grounded in the lived experiences of children. Through strengthened coordination, structured implementation frameworks and meaningful child participation, Busia County is advancing toward a future where every child is visible, protected and empowered.
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