Tumikia Mtoto project supporting orphans and vulnerable children in Kiambu

Kiambu, Wednesday June 21st 2023

KNA by Elizabeth Wanja

USAID Tumikia Mtoto Project has partnered with the Kiambu County Government towards promoting quality health and social services for the vulnerable.

When addressing the Media, Director Tumikia Mtoto project Dr James Mukabi noted that they have supported over 13,000 orphans and vulnerable children from across the county and 21,000 adolescents’ girls and young women.

The vulnerable include the orphans and vulnerable children (OVC), adolescent girls and young women (AGYW), and their families who they are supporting as a continuum of care, protection, and capacity building for self-reliance.

“The Tumikia mtoto initiative is in partnership with the County Government of Kiambu whereby we are providing various services to the children. We ensure that these children acquire health services and social services,” said Mukabi.

He stated that the health facilities in Kiambu have worked tirelessly to ensure children especially the 13,000 orphans and vulnerable children get the required services when needed.

Mukabi explained that the project also focuses on addressing educational needs of the children, key one being providing school fees to these children.

“This year alone, we have paid over Ksh19 Million for school fees bursaries benefitting 4,500 children. It is a very big investment and I really want to thank all the partners whom we may have worked with the County government team and Kiambaa, Githunguri sub-county teams that has enabled us to achieve this goal,” Mukabi said.

He noted that in order to economically strengthen the households, they have introduced income generating activities and start small businesses to be able to support the orphans

“We have almost 3,000 household homes which we are working with and supporting, they have started income generating activities and we believe that through this project we will be able to support these children on health and also on educational needs,” said Mukabi.

He further explained that they have developed policies that will ensure there is no online child sexual abuse and advised people to handle children with respect and dignity.

Mukabi asked the County Government officers in charge of disbursing the county bursaries to prioritize orphans, needy and vulnerable children when they are issuing bursaries.

Kiambu County Government Social Services Coordinator Ms Grace Mbugua stated that they have set aside bursaries allocation for needy and vulnerable children including those living with disabilities.

She explained that the county government of Kiambu will have disbursed over Sh300 million for the year 2023 and the committee will prioritize children that are needy, living with disabilities and orphans for the bursary allocation.

The vision of the project ensures that all the children and their households will be healthy, stable, safe and schooled.

The USAID Tumikia Mtoto project is a USAID funded five-year project. The project is led by World Vision Kenya in partnership with other implementing partners. St John’s Community center and County government of Kiambu are one of the partners and USAID Tumikia Mtoto enjoys complementary support.

Courtesy ; K. N. A