A Landmark Policy for Working Families

The Nairobi City County Government (NCCG) on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, officially rolled out a comprehensive new childcare system designed to support working families by formalizing and improving the quality of daycare services across the capital. The initiative, developed in a strategic partnership with the social enterprise Kidogo Early Years, introduces a regulatory framework and a data-driven mapping tool intended to bring thousands of informal childcare providers into a structured, supportive system. This move is positioned as a critical step toward easing the immense pressure on working parents, particularly mothers, and boosting Nairobi's economic productivity.

Speaking at the launch, Judy Macharia, Head of Community Health Services for Nairobi County, emphasized the administration's commitment. "This initiative marks a crucial step toward institutionalising quality, sustainable Early Childhood Development (ECD) within Nairobi's broader agenda," she stated on Monday, November 3, 2025. She affirmed that the program is a core component of Governor Johnson Sakaja's vision, which includes investments in child welfare like the 'Dishi na County' school feeding program.

The Economic Burden of Childcare

For years, the high cost and inconsistent quality of childcare in Nairobi have been significant barriers to workforce participation, disproportionately affecting women. Research has shown a direct correlation between high childcare expenses and a decline in women's involvement in the labor force in Kenya. A study in Nairobi's informal settlements revealed that offering subsidized childcare vouchers increased employment among mothers by an average of 8.5 percentage points. In urban Kenya, childcare costs can consume up to 50% of a family's monthly budget, with daily rates in Nairobi ranging from KSh 300 to over KSh 1,000.

This financial strain forces many parents, especially mothers, into precarious employment or out of the workforce altogether. According to the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics, women in Kenya already perform the majority of unpaid care work, spending over three hours more per day on these duties than men. By creating a more accessible and affordable childcare system, the county government aims to unlock significant economic potential, enabling more women to pursue stable, formal employment.

How the New System Works

The cornerstone of the new system is the Nairobi City County Child Care Facilities Regulations (2025), which will operationalize the Child Care Facilities Act of 2017. These regulations establish clear standards for licensing, health and safety, staff qualifications, and learning environments. A key innovation is the Childcare Mapping Tool, a digital platform that has already identified over 4,000 daycare centers, many operating informally.

Elaine Wacuka, Head of Policy & Partnership for Kidogo Early Years, highlighted the tool's importance: "For the first time, the County can visualize where childcare is happening, identify underserved neighbourhoods, and, most importantly, understand what support providers need to improve the quality of service." The program, set to be implemented over the next three years, will leverage the county's 7,820 Community Health Promoters (CHPs) to train childcare providers on a nurturing care framework that covers health, nutrition, safety, and early learning.

Challenges and the Path Forward

Despite the initiative's promise, significant challenges remain. A baseline study by Aga Khan University found that many Early Childhood Development (ECD) centers in Nairobi are overcrowded, lack suitable play areas, and have poorly qualified staff, with over half of teachers holding qualifications below the minimum requirement. Furthermore, only 228 public ECDE centers exist in the county, a number vastly insufficient to meet demand. The new system must address these deep-seated issues of quality and capacity.

The county's approach focuses on collaboration rather than punishment. Instead of shutting down informal centers, the goal is to provide them with training and resources to meet the new standards. This includes capacity building and simplifying the licensing process, which has historically been a barrier for providers in informal settlements. The success of this ambitious program will depend on sustained funding, rigorous oversight, and the genuine empowerment of childcare providers who form the backbone of this critical sector. If successful, Nairobi's model could provide a blueprint for other counties across Kenya and East Africa grappling with the universal challenge of providing safe, affordable, and high-quality childcare.