Nairobi, 5th December, 2025.
Efforts to strengthen affordable and accessible childcare services for women in Nairobi’s markets have gained momentum as key partners gather to deliberate on solutions that integrate structured childcare services within the City County markets.
At a workshop convened yesterday by the WOW MOM in collaboration with Dalberg Research and BSD group and supported by the International Development Research Institute (DRC), the stakeholders reviewed and provided feedback on the proposed Nairobi City County markets based childcare policy and unlocking economic opportunities for women traders in the county markets. The policy brief envision a Nairobi City County where market traders have access to safe, affordable and nurturing high quality childcare services enabling their full and dignified participation in economic life.
The County Executive Committee Member in charge of Business and Hustler Opportunities Dr. Anastasia Nyalita described markets as the backbone of Nairobi County’s economy, adding that they sustain employment, shore up food security and provide financial stability for countless households yet behind bustling stalls and long trading hours lies a critical challenge, the care and protection of the children whose parents must work tirelessly to sustain their families.
“Many traders particularly women and single parents face impossible choices. Some are forced to bring young children into crowded, unsafe trading environment, exposing them to health risks, accidents, poor sanitation and a lack of early childhood stimulation. Others leave their children unattended at home increasing the risk of neglect, injury and abuse. This reality demands for urgent, deliberate, coordinated and sustainable childcare solutions woven directly into our market systems”. Stated Dr. Nyalita.
Among the approaches the County is championing to ensure safer childcare solutions in the markets as explained by Dr. Nyalita, they include:-establishing market based child care Centres with safe, dedicated spaces offering professional early childhood services, developing and enforcing polices and regulatory frameworks that promote child friendly market infrastructure and care standards.
Others are: – strengthening capacity by training care givers and market committees on children rights and protection, building strong public private partnerships to co-manage and sustain the Centres as well as prioritizing childcare in the county planning and budgeting to ensure long term sustainability beyond pilot initiatives.
The County Executive Committee Member for Inclusivity, Public Participation and Customer Service Ms. Rosemary Kariuki indicated that mainstreaming childcare into the County planning is non-negotiable since it ensures women can work uninterrupted, businesses grow, households income improve and children receive better developmental support.
“The County is implementing flexible market based training at Mwariro market and expanding across other markets. Our sessions are designed around women’s care giving realities, with a goal to train at least 1000 women traders in two years. This initiative is part of Nairobi’s broader agenda of mainstreaming care in economic development, ensuring that county programs do not inadvertently exclude women due to childcare burdens.” Said Ms. Kariuki.
So far, Wow Mom has piloted market daycare facilities in Mwariro and Gikomba markets, offering secure nurturing spaces for children, an initiative that has demonstrated transformative impact enabling women traders to work long hours, increase productivity and expand their businesses. “Women in the markets carry the weight of both enterprise and care giving often at a great personal and economic cost. This proposed policy gives women the freedom to work with dignity and the assurance that their children are safe, cared for and thriving. When we invest in children, we invest in stronger families, resilient communities and more inclusive economy.” Noted Peninah Ndegwa, the Founder of WOW MOM.
Mr. Joel Muli, the County Director of Markets termed childcare as an economic enabler and not just a social service. “By providing safe and affordable childcare in the markets, we are not just supporting children, we are also empowering families and boosting Nairobi’s economy.” He said.
The participants drawn from various County departments, donors, development partners, private sector representatives, market committees, civil society organizations, policy experts and women traders, analyzed the evidence gathered by Dalberg Research, shared experiences from lived market environments and contributed to shaping the policy recommendations that respond to the realities faced by women working in the markets.
A baseline study carried out across Nairobi’s key market Centres by Dalberg Research, mapped out the diverse childcare needs of women traders. The research is expected to guide County level investments and interventions aimed at reducing the unpaid care burden on women while enabling them to fully participate in economic opportunities.
The findings further informed the development of a detailed policy brief outlining practical recommendations for integrating structured childcare services within Nairobi’s markets.
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