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Summary: Fifty-nine representatives of NGOs and CBOs
working with children, and media houses
attended the Dissemination of the Child
Poverty Study Report which took place at
Nairobi Safari Club on 31 March.
Fifty-nine representatives of NGOs and CBOs working with children, and
media houses attended the Dissemination of the Child Poverty Study
Report which took place at Nairobi Safari Club on 31 March. The main aim of
the workshop was to share the findings and recommendations of the
report entitled 'Borrowing Utensils' with development partners.
The research was undertaken by Save the Children UK in 2002-2003 in
Mukuru kwa Ruben slums to examine factors at the international, national,
community and household level that impact on child poverty and children's
basic rights to survival and development as outlined in the UNCRC.
The study found that poor households in Mukuru kwa Ruben, which forms
50 - 55% of the population, lives on Kshs. 40,000 - 100,000 per year (USD
500 - 1250), which translates to less than 0.55$ per person per day. This
is considerably less that the minimum 1$ per person per day recommended
in the Millennium Development Goal. It was also established that that
international and national policies such as African Growth and
Opportunities Act (AGOA) and import policies have impacted negatively on
household income with implications on children's livelihoods. Although the
introduction of the AGOA initiative in the 1990's had a positive impact on
household incomes, the subsequent lay-offs in the non-EPZ domestic
factories due to high production costs and the importation of cheap goods
both second-hand and new have reversed many of the gains made.
In her welcoming remarks, Ms. Dedo Nortey, the Kenya Country
Representative of Save the Children UK, said that the findings of the report
should be used to strengthen government policies. She emphasised the
need to fortify children issues and their input in development planning and
at the same time, review development strategies in line with the rights of
children. Mr. Timothy Ekesa, the Executive Director of KAACR said that it is
time people realised that children do not need handouts but life changing
decisions. This can be achieved through partnership.
The workshop was organised by KAACR and Save the Children UK.