WEE Hub Leads Public Participation on Draft Childcare Policy

On Thursday, April 23rd, 2026, the Women’s Economic Empowerment Hub (WEE Hub) convened a Public Participation meeting in Machakos County to review the newly drafted Machakos County Childcare Policy. The policy was developed in response to a growing challenge: while the number of public and private childcare centres has increased significantly across the county, no formal framework exists to organize, manage, and regulate them. Recognizing this gap under its thematic focus on the Care economy and women’s work, the WEE Hub brought together a diverse group of stakeholders to ensure the draft policy reflects their needs and realities.  

The meeting brought together a wide cross-section of participants, including sub-county administrators, representatives from the Ministry of Education, the State Department for Children’s Services, Members of the County Assembly (MCAs), youth groups, childcare centre staff, and most importantly, parents who use the WEE Hub-established childcare centres in the county. After a thorough presentation of the draft policy, attendees were given the floor to offer their contributions.

The dialogue focused on identifying key elements to be added, removed, or further refined. Key reasons for the exercise included ensuring the policy is locally relevant, closing regulatory gaps, protecting the welfare of children, and creating a supportive environment that enables parents, especially women, to participate in economic activities without compromising care responsibilities.

The feedback gathered will now be synthesized to revise the draft policy before it moves toward formal adoption.