Caren Agengo, the Principal Secretary for Children Services in Kenya, has reiterated the government's commitment to eliminate child institutionalisation by 2032, emphasizing the belief that children should be raised in family environments rather than in institutional settings. This initiative is part of Kenya's 10-year Care Reform Strategy, which is grounded in the Children's Act of 2022, aiming to transition children from institutional care to alternative family care. The government plans to achieve this by locating families and reintegrating children into their homes, alongside enhancing family-based care systems.

Agengo highlighted the detrimental impact that institutional care can have on children's development and identity, underlining the importance of ensuring that children grow up in nurturing family settings. She stated that the government will restrict institutional care to only exceptional cases, where it may be necessary temporarily, and will be legally limited to a maximum of six months. This careful retraction of long-term institutional care signifies a transformative approach to child welfare in the country.

By setting a timeline to reduce child institutionalisation significantly by 2032, the Kenyan government is taking proactive steps to align its child welfare policies with best practices globally, aiming for a brighter future for its youth. This shift is a critical move towards building a more resilient social fabric and fostering environments in which children can thrive emotionally and psychologically, as opposed to the adverse effects often associated with institutional living.