New PS for Children Welfare Services Takes Office, Promises Stronger Child Protection Measures

By James Nyaigoti, 

The State Department for Children Welfare Services ushered in a new era of leadership on Wednesday, April 23, 2025, as CPA Caren Ageng'o Achineng officially assumed office as the new Principal Secretary (PS).

The handover ceremony was held at the NSSF Building, Block A, Eastern Wing, 7th Floor, in the presence of key government leaders and ministry staff.
Cabinet Secretary for Labour and Social Protection Dr. Alfred Mutua, outgoing PS for Social Protection and Senior Citizen Affairs Joseph Motari, and other senior officials were in attendance to witness the official transition.

Speaking at the event, CPA Achineng expressed gratitude for the warm reception from the ministry staff and praised the team's dedication to the department’s mission. “I have had a chance to interact with the staff since last week, and I can confidently say this is a team that will support me in delivering my mandate,” she said.

Achineng is taking over leadership of what was formerly the State Department for Social Protection, now restructured and renamed as the State Department for Children Welfare Services. She commended her predecessor, Joseph Motari, for ensuring a smooth transition and bringing her up to speed on the department’s key operations.

Laying out her vision, PS Achineng highlighted her immediate priorities, emphasizing the urgent need to strengthen child protection across the country.

“My plan as I come in is, number one, to strengthen child protection to ensure our children in this nation are fully protected and safe,” she stated. “I intend to work with various government agencies in form of partnerships to ensure our children are protected.”

Achineng outlined plans to collaborate with the judiciary to fast-track children's cases and ensure justice is served without delays. She emphasized the importance of the existing case management information system, which she plans to fully implement in coordination with the judiciary.

“There is already an information system in place for case management, and I intend to work in partnership with the judiciary to ensure it is fully rolled out, so that we can track and monitor the dispensation of children’s cases,” she said.

Infrastructure development for child welfare services is also on her agenda. Noting that many police stations across the country lack child-friendly facilities, the new PS pledged to work closely with county governments and relevant agencies to establish and improve infrastructure, including rescue centers as outlined in the Children’s Act.

“I intend to ensure that all counties have proper children’s facilities—from police stations to rescue centers—through collaborations with county governments and other partners,” Achineng said.

With a clear focus on enhancing child welfare services, CPA Caren Achineng's leadership promises a proactive and structured approach to addressing the needs of vulnerable children across Kenya.

The transition marks a new chapter for the department as it aims to create a safer, more supportive environment for the nation’s children.

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