By Billy Mijungu
As Kenya intensified its commitment to child welfare, a new pillar was quietly but firmly established within the Directorate of Children Services.
Known as the Strategic Intervention Department, this unit was created to address emerging and urgent challenges facing children across the country.
It was not born out of convenience, but out of necessity, with a clear mandate to protect the most vulnerable in moments of crisis.
At the heart of the department’s mission is the protection of children during emergencies.
Whether responding to floods, droughts, disease outbreaks, or situations where children are at risk, the department plays a central coordinating role.
It is a member of the Kenya National Food Security Working Group and conducts regular assessments in arid and semi-arid regions.
Officers stationed in twenty-three counties provide critical services, supported by guidelines that have already been rolled out to several counties.
The National Child Helpline, accessed through the toll-free number 116, is another vital arm of the department.
It operates around the clock from Kabete and Eldoret, handling nearly one hundred thousand cases annually.
Since its beginnings in 2006, and with ChildLine Kenya joining the effort in 2008, the helpline has grown into a lifeline for countless children.
It now includes mental health chatbot services, and despite challenges like staffing and operational costs, it remains a vital refuge for those in need.
Another key area of focus is the management of child protection cases.
This section ensures that both government and civil society actors are aligned in how they respond to children in need.
Guidelines launched in 2021 have guided over twelve hundred stakeholders from twenty-two counties.
Still, limited resources have slowed full nationwide implementation.
The department also champions access to justice for children.
It works closely with the judiciary and the National Council on the Administration of Justice to build capacity for children’s officers across the country.
Hundreds of officers have been trained on key legal procedures such as bail, diversion, and plea bargaining, ensuring that children caught in legal systems are treated fairly and with dignity.
An ambitious model for Child Protection Centers has also taken shape, inspired by the one-stop approach seen in Huduma Centres.
These hubs bring together legal, social, and medical services under one roof.
Although six centers have been launched in Nairobi, Nakuru, Garissa, Kilifi, Siaya, and Kakamega, sustainability remains a challenge.
A model for integrating these services into existing county infrastructure is currently under review.
The work of the Strategic Intervention Department is ongoing and dynamic.
It is developing assessment tools linked to food security and child protection, training officers for emergency response, and preparing a roadmap for deeper collaboration with partners like ChildLine Kenya.
The department envisions a future where child protection services are seamlessly integrated, supported by robust data, efficient communication systems, and well-equipped emergency command centers.
Despite financial and logistical hurdles, the Strategic Intervention Department is a living testament to Kenya’s evolving response to the needs of its children.
It stands as both a guardian and a guide, offering hope in times of crisis and structure in times of reform.
For every child who faces danger, neglect, or injustice, this department exists quietly working to ensure that no child is left behind.
