Good news is on the horizon for women in the informal sector at Ruiru Market! The fully furnished Child Care Center, a collaborative initiative between Oxfam in Kenya, Youth Alive! Kenya, the Kiambu County Government, and the Women’s Economic Empowerment and Care (WE-Care) Program, is on track to open its doors soon.

Launched in March 2023, the center experienced initial operational delays. However, a proactive follow-up in November spurred decisive action. Stakeholders, including the Ruiru Market Committee and the Kiambu County Government, convened with the WE-Care Program Management Unit (PMU) for a productive crisis meeting. The focus was clear: to swiftly resolve any hurdles and ensure the center becomes a valuable asset to the community.

Positive progress has been made, with concrete plans for reactivation and ongoing monitoring firmly in place. An upcoming strategy meeting, bringing together county representatives, market committee members, traders, and Youth Alive! Kenya, signals a unified commitment to the center’s success. Collaborative efforts are also underway to engage additional partners, ensuring the long-term sustainability and smooth operation of the facility, with the aim of opening before the end of the year.

The enthusiastic participation of the Kiambu County Government representative and the full market committee underscores the strong local support for this vital initiative and their dedication to advancing gender equality.

The Ruiru Market Child-Care Centre is poised to provide much-needed support to women working in the informal sector, offering them the flexibility to pursue their livelihoods while ensuring their children receive care. This initiative directly addresses the critical issue of unpaid care and domestic work, a significant impediment to women’s economic empowerment in Kenya. The imminent opening of the center represents a tangible step forward in recognizing and valuing the vital contributions of women in the community.

WE-Care remains steadfast in its commitment to advancing Women’s Economic Empowerment by tackling the fundamental challenges posed by unpaid care and domestic work, and the soon-to-be-opened Ruiru Market Child Care Center is a testament to this dedication.