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Cheptumo shocked by Eldoret prison day care conditions
04th February, 2026 04:20 PM
The Cabinet Secretary for Gender, Culture and Children Services, Hanna Cheptumo, has urged stakeholders to collaborate in improving daycare services within prisons to ensure the safety and well-being of children living with incarcerated mothers.
Speaking during a visit to Eldoret GK Prison on Wednesday, February 4, 2026, Cheptumo revealed that the facility currently hosts 29 children, despite having the capacity to adequately care for only four.
Urgent childcare concerns
“This situation leaves 25 children without proper facilities and exposes them to harsh conditions they do not deserve,” she said.
“These children are not offenders. They are only here because of their mothers’ circumstances, and it is our collective responsibility to protect their rights and dignity.”
The cabinet secretary called on development partners, county governments, and civil society organisations to join hands in upgrading prison childcare infrastructure.
“We must ensure that all prison facilities offering care to children meet acceptable standards. No child should suffer because of a parent’s conviction,” Cheptumo added.
The remarks were made during the groundbreaking ceremony for a new daycare facility at the prison, expected to be completed within three months.
Support from international partners
European Union Ambassador to Kenya, Henriette Geiger, who attended the event, emphasised the importance of child-friendly spaces within correctional facilities.
“There is a real need for such facilities across the country,” Geiger said. “The European Union is committed to supporting Kenya in prison reforms, including digitalisation and the use of alternative dispute resolution mechanisms to help decongest prisons.”
She noted that improving conditions within prisons remains a key focus area for the EU.
“Projects like this contribute greatly to humane correctional services, and we intend to support the construction of similar facilities in prisons nationwide to ensure children are properly cared for,” she said.
The new daycare centre is expected to significantly improve living conditions for children residing at Eldoret GK Prison, marking a major step toward child protection within Kenya’s correctional system.
