Nairobi,1st August 2025
Nairobi City County Government, through its Gender and Inclusivity Sub-sector, has taken a bold step in mainstreaming the care economy by partnering with Wow Mom Kenya and Metropolis. The initiative seeks to enhance the County’s capacity to improve care services through increased budget allocations and progressive policy implementation.
The project aims to build technical expertise among county officials by equipping them with the knowledge and tools necessary to advocate for the harmonization, adoption, and operationalization of care-related policies and programs. These efforts are intended to ensure quality service provision and effective regulation of care providers across Nairobi.
Speaking during the inception meeting, County Chief Officer for Gender and Inclusivity, Ms. Maryam Dahir, emphasized the pivotal role of care work in Nairobi’s development agenda.
“Care work is the unseen oxygen that keeps our society alive. Yet, for too long, it has been undervalued, invisibilized, and disproportionately shouldered by women. This ends here, today, with us,” she stated.
Ms. Dahir further underscored the silent contributions of thousands of caregivers, mothers, domestic workers, nurses, and community supporters whose efforts often go unrecognized, despite forming the backbone of Nairobi’s social fabric.
“This is not just a gender injustice; it is a barrier to our county’s prosperity. When women are shackled by unpaid care burdens, our economy bleeds potential. When care work is treated as an afterthought, our development plans stand on fragile ground,” she added.
This initiative is also guided by the globally endorsed 5R Framework; Recognize, Reduce, Redistribute, Represent, and Reward, aimed at addressing the unequal burden of unpaid and underpaid care work, particularly among women in informal sectors.
Ms. Peninah Ndegwah, Managing Director of Wow Mom Kenya, highlighted the economic implications of unpaid care work, citing that Nairobi’s population of 4.3 million 49% of whom are youth aged 24 to 35 signals an urgent and growing demand for accessible childcare services.
She further noted that this initiative is designed to enable mothers, particularly market traders, to work with peace of mind, knowing their children are in safe, nurturing environments. “Women in Nairobi spend an average of five hours daily on unpaid care work, compared to one hour for men. This inequality has direct economic costs. For example, female market traders with children earn 48% less than those without due to care-related constraints,” she noted.
The Director for Gender, Ms. Jane Gichuhi, reaffirmed the County’s commitment to institutionalizing care as a core public service.
“We are building a strong foundation by training officials to prioritize and manage care services effectively. Our goal is to transform Nairobi into a care supportive city that fosters sustained economic and social investment,” she said.
Mr. Kefa Omanga, Director for Donor and Stakeholder Engagement, called on all departments to collaborate in mobilizing resources and scaling up county wide care infrastructure. “Care is not a side issue; it is a strategic development agenda. This initiative aligns with Nairobi County’s constitutional obligations and global commitments, including the Sustainable Development Goals and the Convention on the Rights of the Child,” he emphasized.
With this initiative, Nairobi County positions itself as a leader in advancing care responsive governance and building an inclusive economy that values and invests in care work.
Also present were County Directors; Mr. Leonard Mititi vocational training, Mr. Duncan Oyugi, Employee Relations, Mr. Godfrey Ochele Public participation, County Deputy directors, Assistant Directors, Gender officers and various stakeholders.
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