Plan International Kenya, the Agency for Cross-Border Pastoralists (APAD) and the County Government of Turkana have rolled out a joint programme to equip parents with skills to provide proper care and positive parenting to children affected by crises.
The programme targets 1320 parents through a 17-module curriculum covering positive caregiver-child relationships, parenting-related stress and ways of creating safe and supportive environments for children.
The first cohort of 728 parents has already completed the training, while the second cohort comprising 592 parents is expected to begin sessions in the coming weeks.
Speaking after attending a training session at the Kakuma Refugee Camp, Deputy Governor Dr John Erus praised the initiative, saying properly nurtured children would contribute to the objectives of both the Kakuma Integrated Socio-Economic Development Plan (KISEDP) and the Shirika Plan as they grow into adulthood.
“I am particularly impressed that the program includes parents with disabilities and also offers unconditional cash transfers. In this way, vulnerability has been turned into something positive for refugees facing the pressure of raising children as parents in Kakuma camp and Kalobeyei settlement scheme,” he said.
Dr Erus also commended Plan International for partnering with APAD as its local implementing organisation, saying such collaborations strengthen the capacity of local institutions to sustain programmes beyond their implementation period.
Plan International Kenya Country Director George Otim said the decision to implement the programme in Kakuma was informed not only by data on the refugee crisis but also by guidance from the County Government and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
He explained that Parenting Under Pressure (PUP) is part of the three-year Nurturing Futures initiative, running from 2024 to 2027 and supported by Danmarks Indsamling.
“Plan International works with children and girls in crisis particularly in Arid and Semi arid (ASAL) counties such as Turkana, we also support underserved communities in Kakuma and Kalobeyei refugee settings. as well as Kakuma and Kalobeyei refugee settings,” he said.
Betty Kinyonge, an officer implementing the Nurturing Futures Project, said parents in refugee settings face significant pressure, making the intervention particularly important.
“Kakuma Refugee Camp is not easy for parents; there are a lot of things they are going through. What we are trying to do with Parenting Under Pressure (PUP) is to equip parents with knowledge to face stress and understand how to bring up their children in a healthy and positive way,” she said.
Nelly Mukucha and Kamariza Aisha, refugee parents who completed the 17-module curriculum and benefited from unconditional cash transfers under the programme, said the intervention had improved their ability to support their children and reduce unnecessary violence and negative parenting practices.
“As parents, we are now fully aware of the needs of children in different categories from age 0-8. While we implement the teachings in our homes, we also share the same with other parents we interact with on a daily basis,” Mukucha said.
Aisha, who benefited from the cash transfer component, said the total disbursement of Sh28,530, paid in three monthly instalments of Sh9,510, enabled her to start a business that now supports her six children while she applies the parenting lessons at home.
