According to a government minister, Kenya will abolish all privately owned orphanages and children’s homes within eight years.

Florence Bore, Minister of Social Protection, said the closure was intended to stop the trafficking of children.

As a result, the children will be placed in family and community care, which offers a better environment for them.

There are 811 registered institutions in Kenya that care for 40,000 children, according to a 2017 report by the UN children’s agency.

There is no information available on the number of children living in unregistered institutions.

According to Bore, the government is already reforming children’s homes and orphanages, as she posted on X, formerly known as Twitter.

“Private homes will cease to exist in eight years. We need to prepare to absorb those children,” she said on Sunday during an inspection of child care facilities under construction.

According to Ms Bore, the government will continue to house children in facilities managed by the Child Welfare Society of Kenya, the government agency responsible for the care, protection, welfare, and adoption of children.

Following the passage of the 2022 Children’s Act, Kenya plans to phase out private orphanages and children’s homes.

To curb child abuse and trafficking, the law recommended placing children without families in alternative care such as guardianship, foster care placement, and adoption.

Kenya’s orphanages and children’s homes have been criticized for exploitation of children.

According to Stahili Foundation, some orphanages and children’s homes in Kenya convince families to give away their children before soliciting donations from them.