Kenya launches the Disability-Inclusive Early Childhood Development (DIECD) Strategy

Children with disabilities in Kenya often face immense barriers in accessing health care and education.

To change this, The Action Foundation (TAF), in collaboration with national and county governments, launched the Disability-Inclusive Early Childhood Development (DIECD) Strategy in Nairobi on October 9, 2025.

Caregiver’s Experience: Living the Reality of Exclusion

For caregivers like Christine Adisa from Mathare, raising a child with a disability is an everyday struggle.

“I am a caregiver to my daughter, who has cerebral palsy,” she said. “My daughter uses medication daily, and when I can’t afford it, it becomes a big challenge because the drugs are expensive.”

Beyond medical costs, she faces constant caregiving responsibilities.

“She also needs Pampers and is choosy with food, but I make sure she eats,” she said.

“Another challenge is taking her to regular clinic visits to monitor her progress.”

As a single mother, Christine balances caregiving and survival.

“I sell sweets to make a living, and I often carry my daughter with me because she gets convulsions, so I can’t leave her with anyone,” she explained.

“It’s not easy, but I do it out of love.”

She expressed gratitude for the support she receives from The Action Foundation.

“They offer free physiotherapy for my baby, and I have seen great improvement in her movement,” she said.

“Therapy has helped her body become more flexible, and meeting other parents going through the same thing has given me hope.”

Her plea is for more accessible education.

“The government should build more schools for children with special needs whose parents cannot afford expensive private schools,” she said.

The Launch

The six-year Disability-Inclusive Early Childhood Development (DIECD) strategy (2025–2030) aims to transform how Kenya supports young children with disabilities and their caregivers.

The program targets over 1.3 million children aged 0–8 years and their caregivers in Nairobi, Kajiado, Machakos, Murang’a, Siaya, Kilifi, and Samburu counties.

The DIECD strategy is supported by Co-Impact and seeks to strengthen access to health, nutrition, early learning, and protection services for children with disabilities while improving coordination between government and civil society actors.

Maria Omare – The Action Foundation

Maria Omare, Founder and Executive Director of The Action Foundation, said the project marks a new chapter in Kenya’s inclusion journey.

“We have aligned our shared visions and reaffirmed our collective commitment to transforming systems that support children with disabilities and their caregivers,” she said.

“We have framed the why, the moral and developmental imperative to act, and the what, a multi-sectoral approach connecting health, education, and social protection.”

Maria emphasized that the next step is implementation.

“Today is about moving from vision to action, strategy to delivery, and commitments to measurable results,” she said.

“This is where system change begins within communities, classrooms, and health facilities.”

They added, “Let today be a turning point where inclusion moves from conversation to confident action because every action we take brings us closer to a Kenya where no child is invisible and every caregiver is supported.”

Dr. Patrick Amoth, Director General for Health, also welcomed the collaboration and reaffirmed government support.

“Children with disabilities often face significant barriers when accessing essential health and developmental services,” he said.

“The Ministry of Health is committed to changing this by integrating rehabilitation services and assistive technology through our 2022–2026 strategy and the Disability Assessment and Categorisation Guidelines.”

He added, “Partnerships like this one with The Action Foundation are key to ensuring rehabilitation becomes a core part of universal health coverage.”

Dr. MaqC Eric Gitau, CEO of Development Dynamics, said his organization serves as the research, learning, and evidence partner in the initiative.

“At Development Dynamics, we work as a think tank generating insights, a do tank translating those insights into strategy, and a through tank connecting capital to change,” he said.

“In this partnership with The Action Foundation and Co-Impact, we are the neutral voice ensuring that lived experiences, expertise, and evidence all inform the program’s growth.”

He added, “We’re supporting baseline research, tracking progress, and guiding learning to strengthen program impact. Today marks the start of a national rollout following two years of development. Over the next year, we’ll carry out county entry visits and adapt the program for local implementation.”

A Vision for Inclusion

The DIECD strategy aligns with Kenya’s goal of achieving universal health coverage and inclusive education.

By embedding rehabilitation, early learning, and caregiver support within public systems, the initiative seeks to create lasting change.

As Christine Adisa’s story shows, inclusion is more than policy it is about giving every child a fair chance at life, dignity, and hope.