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A Comprehensive Analysis of Care and Support Policies and Services in Kenya
A Comprehensive Analysis of Care and Support Policies and Services in Kenya
October 14, 2026
A Comprehensive Analysis of Care and Support Policies in Kenya
This report provides the first holistic assessment of Kenya’s care policy ecosystem, examining more than 70 laws, policies and institutional frameworks through the lens of the “5Rs” of care work: Recognize, Reduce, Redistribute, Reward and Represent. It highlights the significant contribution of care work to Kenya’s economy, with unpaid care and domestic work valued at KES 2.54 trillion annually, equivalent to 23.1% of GDP, yet largely carried by women and remaining insufficiently recognized in labour and economic systems. The analysis finds that while Kenya has established a strong legal and policy foundation through constitutional protections, social protection programmes, disability frameworks and the National Care Policy, implementation remains fragmented, underfunded and uneven across sectors and counties. The report identifies key gaps in governance, financing, disability inclusion, childcare provision and caregiver recognition, and provides actionable recommendations to strengthen coordination, social protection, gender equality and disability-inclusive care systems. Ultimately, it positions care as a critical development issue and economic investment essential for inclusive growth, equality and resilience in Kenya
Comprehensive Mapping and Analysis of Care and Support Services in Kenya
This report maps and analyses Kenya’s care and support service landscape, covering public, private, community-based and informal care systems across all 47 counties. The study identified 1,698 actors providing services to children, persons with disabilities and older persons, demonstrating the breadth of Kenya’s care ecosystem while also revealing significant inequalities in access, quality, financing and inclusion. It highlights the crucial role played by families, communities, civil society, faith-based organizations and government institutions in delivering care services, often with women bearing the largest share of unpaid caregiving responsibilities. While progress has been made through social protection programmes, disability services, childcare reforms and community health systems, major gaps remain in coordination, service coverage, caregiver support, financing and long-term care pathways. The report calls for a more integrated, gender-transformative and disability-inclusive care system, with stronger investments in care infrastructure, social protection, community-based services and caregiver recognition. Its findings provide an evidence base for strengthening Kenya’s care economy and advancing inclusive development outcomes.