Kenya

Kenya’s alternative care system for children in need of care and protection has been running for decades, and the dominant model of care has been institutional care, that is, care in charitable children institutions (CCIs). Although research on this particular subject is scarce, there is more literature on the subject of care than on leaving care. Hence, this chapter, on the concept of care leaving, critically looks at the dearth of literature about care leaving in Kenya. The study begins by unpacking the care system in Kenya and the current status of care, then it explores the available laws, policies, and guidelines, or lack thereof, and how young people are involved in developing these frameworks. Subsequently, the study also looks at the implications of these normative frameworks to the care leaving processes and the practical reality of care leaving.