POLICARE Under Scrutiny as Lawmakers Expand GBV and Child Welfare Inspections to Laikipia

The National Assembly’s Departmental Committee on Social Protection has intensified its oversight role with a series of regional inspection visits aimed at evaluating the implementation of programmes addressing gender-based violence (GBV) and child welfare.

The exercise, led by Committee Chairperson Hon. Alice Ng’ang’a, involves sub-committees deployed across various regions to allow Members of Parliament to engage directly with institutions on the ground and assess their effectiveness in delivering critical services.

In Laikipia County, the Committee’s inspection focused on Nanyuki, where legislators visited the POLICARE Centre—a flagship facility established to provide integrated support services for survivors of GBV and child abuse.

POLICARE, funded by the British High Commission, was designed as a one-stop centre offering medical care, psychosocial support, legal assistance, and reporting services under one roof. The model aims to protect survivors from the trauma of navigating multiple institutions in search of help.

However, despite handling an estimated four to six cases daily, lawmakers found that the facility operates without a formal policy framework or dedicated government funding, raising concerns about its sustainability.

Members were also informed that uncertainty surrounding the centre’s ownership and management has left its operations in limbo since its handover. Critical gaps persist, including the lack of an ambulance, insufficient staffing, and inadequate medical equipment.

Further compounding the situation, essential supplies such as rape kits are not readily available on-site and must be transported by a medical officer from a nearby hospital—delays that legislators warned could compromise timely support for survivors.

Principal Secretary Anne Wang’ombe, who accompanied the delegation, acknowledged the urgency of addressing these challenges. She cited a worrying rise in GBV cases, child abuse, and suicide rates nationwide, underscoring the need for increased funding, stronger preventive measures, and sustained public awareness campaigns.

The Committee is now advocating for the development of a comprehensive national policy to anchor the POLICARE model, alongside enhanced coordination with the National Police Service and the Ministry of Interior and National Administration.

In addition to the POLICARE Centre, lawmakers inspected facilities designated for children’s welfare, where they noted deteriorating infrastructure and a lack of basic office furniture and equipment.

The inspection exercise forms part of broader efforts by Parliament to ensure that systems designed to protect vulnerable populations are adequately resourced and effectively implemented. Lawmakers emphasized that addressing the root causes of GBV and safeguarding children must remain a national priority.

The Committee is expected to compile its findings into a report that will inform policy recommendations and guide future government interventions in the social protection sector.