A Blueprint for Care Integration: Evidence and Tools for Transforming Nairobi’s Care Economy.
Launch of the Nairobi State of Care Report 2026 and Toolkit for Care Mainstreaming in Planning and Budgeting.
On 21 May 2026, Nairobi reached a defining moment in its journey towards becoming a care-responsive city with the launch of the Nairobi State of Care Report 2026 and the Care Mainstreaming Toolkit for Planning and Budgeting. More than the unveiling of two evidence-based documents, the event signalled a deliberate shift towards recognising care as a visible, valued, funded, and institutionalised pillar of urban development. It brought together government leaders, civil society, development partners, caregivers, advocates, and community actors around a shared vision of positioning care as both a public good and a driver of inclusive economic growth.
Convened by Wow Mom Kenya and the Nairobi City County Government, in collaboration with partners including Oxfam, Youth Alive Kenya, Coalition on Violence Against Women, and We Care, and implemented under the Mainstreaming Care Project funded by Metropolis, the event celebrated growing momentum across Nairobi’s care ecosystem. From childcare systems and care for older persons, to disability inclusion, support for persons living with non-communicable diseases, refugees, migrants, and unpaid caregivers, the launch reflected a widening recognition that care is foundational to how the city functions.
The presence of senior county leadership underscored Nairobi's growing commitment to positioning care at the heart of governance. Among those in attendance were Hon. Rosemary Kariuki, County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Inclusivity, Public Participation and Customer Service; Hon. Brian Mulama, CECM for Talent, Skills Development and Care; Dr. Anastasia Nyalita, CECM for Business and Hustler Opportunities; and Mr. Stephen Gathuita Mwangi, CECM for Boroughs, Administration and Personnel. Their participation reflected a shared commitment to embedding care across county priorities, signalling that it is increasingly recognised not simply as a social issue, but as a critical component of inclusive
Capturing this transformation, Hon. Brian Mulama powerfully remarked, “Care is love.” A simple yet profound statement that captured the essence of the gathering: care is not charity, nor invisible labour it is the infrastructure of dignity, inclusion, and wellbeing. The event also brought together key sector leaders and champions, including Mr. Tony Kimani, Chief Officer for Social Services; Dr. Irene Muchoki, Chief Officer Gender and Inclusivity; Director Jane Gichure; and Dr. Muchemi Gakuru, Advisory Board Member at Wow Mom, all of whom continue to shape Nairobi’s evolving care agenda.
One of the most engaging sessions, Care in Action, grounded policy conversations in lived realities, highlighting practical solutions and persistent gaps across Nairobi's care economy. Speakers showcased innovative childcare models and the impactful childcare solutions being driven by organizations like Wow Mom Kenya, Uthabiti Africa, Kidogo, and Tiny Totos, while emphasizing the need for stronger investment, regulation, and financing to expand quality, affordable care. The discussion also underscored the importance of age-friendly services for older persons, recognition and protection of caregivers through fair working conditions and professionalization, and greater male engagement in caregiving to challenge harmful gender norms. Collectively, the session reinforced that building a care-responsive city requires coordinated action, inclusive policies, and sustained investment in care as essential social and economic infrastructure.
Presenting the journey of the Mainstreaming Care Project: Strengthening Nairobi City County Government’s Capacity to Enhance Care Services through Increased Budgets and Policy Implementation , Wow Mom Kenya Founder and CEO, Peninah Ndegwa, reflected on how the initiative began with a simple but urgent observation—the absence of safe childcare facilities within public spaces. What started as interventions to improve childcare in markets such as Gikomba and Mwariro and public facilities evolved into a county-wide state of care assessment that exposed significant gaps in care services, coordination, financing, and policy implementation. Through strategic partnerships, including collaboration with Nairobi City County, the establishment of the Care Sector Technical Working Group (TWG), capacity building, and the development of a care mainstreaming toolkit,, these efforts have laid the foundation for integrating care into county planning and budgeting. Together, these milestones demonstrate a shift from identifying care challenges to driving coordinated, evidence-based action that recognizes care as essential social and economic infrastructure for inclusive urban development.
The closing discussions reinforced that building a care-responsive city requires both global inspiration and local commitment. Insights from Bogotá's internationally recognised Care Blocks, demonstrated how care services can be embedded within everyday public infrastructure to make them more accessible and inclusive. Discussions on financing emphasized that sustainable care systems depend on strong political will, coordinated investment, and the integration of care into county planning and budgeting. The session concluded with a collective call for strengthened partnerships, institutional capacity, and long-term reforms, underscoring that Nairobi’s care future will be shaped through coordinated action that recognizes care as a fundamental pillar of inclusive development.
The Nairobi State of Care Report 2026 and the Care Mainstreaming Toolkit is not a final milestone. It is a starting point for a deeper commitment toward building a care-responsive city where systems work for caregivers, care recipients and communities alike. Because ultimately, a city that cares for its people is a city that works for everyone, old or young.