Siaya County has launched a five-year strategy aimed at enhancing care, protection, learning, and support for children in their early years. The plan, known as the Siaya County Integrated Nurturing Care for Early Childhood Development (INCECD) Strategic Plan 2026–2030, was unveiled by the county government on October 1, 2026. The strategy seeks to address the needs of children and families through a coordinated approach, bringing together county departments, national government agencies, development partners, and civil society organizations.
The commitment was marked by the signing of a County Executive Statement of Commitment by County Executive Committee Members. The strategy is based on the need to support children during their earliest years, when the foundations for their future health, learning, safety, and wellbeing are formed. Rather than having different departments deal with children's needs separately, the plan brings together sectors involved in their care and development. This approach aims to improve cooperation between different sectors involved in providing services to children and families.
The county government said the signing shows that responsibility for nurturing care will be shared across county departments and will require the inclusion of related priorities in sector plans, programmes, and budgets. The strategy covers various sectors, including Health and Sanitation, Education and Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE), Social Services, Gender and Youth, Governance, Finance, ICT, and Community Development. National government agencies, development partners, and civil society organizations will also be involved in carrying out the plan.
One of the main priorities of the strategy is to identify vulnerable children and families and provide them with the support they need. The county also plans to improve referral and follow-up systems so that those requiring assistance can access the right services. Another area of focus is strengthening the skills of frontline workers and community champions who work directly with children and families at community level. The plan also calls for sustainable financing for nurturing care activities, alongside greater use of data to help the county make decisions and understand the needs of children and families.
The strategy will also seek to improve links between communities, frontline workers, county departments, and organizations involved in early childhood development. County leaders said investment in children during their earliest years would help build the foundation for a healthier, more resilient, and prosperous generation. The 2026–2030 plan will guide Siaya's integrated nurturing care programmes for the next five years, with data, monitoring, and accountability expected to play a central role in tracking implementation.
The county government said the approach will give particular attention to children from vulnerable families and ensure they receive coordinated support. The commitment also places early childhood development responsibility across several sectors, rather than leaving it mainly to health and education departments. The county government said the strategy reflects its commitment to ensuring every child survives, thrives, and reaches their full potential, with its implementation guided by the principle of leaving no child behind.
Through the Smart Start Siaya Initiative, the county is promoting five key areas of nurturing care: good health, adequate nutrition, responsive caregiving, safety and security, and opportunities for early learning. The five areas provide a broad approach to supporting children's physical, emotional, and cognitive development. According to the county government, bringing these areas together will improve the support available to children and families while strengthening cooperation among those providing services.
Key points
- The strategy aims to improve care, protection, learning, and support for children in their early years through a coordinated approach.
- The plan brings together county departments, national government agencies, development partners, and civil society organizations to address the needs of children and families.
- The strategy focuses on five key areas of nurturing care: good health, adequate nutrition, responsive caregiving, safety and security, and opportunities for early learning.
