WEE Hub at the International Day of Care and Support Commemoration Event – 29th October 2025

Celebrating Care Work, Advancing Research, and Strengthening Policy

On October 29th, the Women's Economic Empowerment (WEE) Hub joined stakeholders from across Kenya at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre to commemorate the International Day of Care and Support.

Hosted by the State Department for Gender Affairs and Affirmative Action, the national celebration brought together care workers - including domestic workers, healthcare professionals, and childcare providers; alongside development partners and academic institutions committed to advancing the care economy.

Representing the University of Nairobi, the WEE Hub participated through the delivery of a keynote speech on behalf of the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Margaret Hutchinson, who was ably represented by Prof. Jack Odhiambo, Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. The Vice Chancellor’s remarks spotlighted the WEE Hub’s pioneering research on childcare models that center the needs of working mothers and elevate care work as a pillar of economic empowerment.

The WEE Hub’s contributions to the care agenda include:

• Piloting a childcare model in Busia County tailored to mothers engaged in cross-border trade.

• Establishing two additional day care centers in Machakos County, expanding access to safe, affordable childcare.

• Catalyzing replication of the model by other organizations across Kenya, signaling its relevance and impact.

This work directly aligns with the goals of the International Day of Care and Support: to recognize, reduce, redistribute, reward and represent care workers as well as promote inclusive policies that value care as essential infrastructure. By linking research to practice, the WEE Hub continues to shape evidence-based solutions that empower women, strengthen families, and support Kenya’s development agenda.