The Nairobi State of Care Report 2026

The Nairobi State of Care Report 2026 is high-level State of Care Assessment conducted by the Nairobi City County Government (NCCG) in partnership with Wow Mom Kenya, with support from Metropolis, under the project “Mainstreaming Care: Strengthening Nairobi City County Government’s Capacity to Enhance Care Services through Increased Budgets and Policy Implementation.” The study provides Nairobi’s first consolidated evidence base on the city’s care ecosystem, including policies, financing, infrastructure, institutional capacity, and service delivery.

The assessment found that unpaid domestic and care work remains a critical yet largely invisible pillar of Nairobi’s economy. Women continue to carry the greatest burden of unpaid care work, limiting their economic participation and productivity. Although care-related investments exist within county plans, care is not yet formally integrated into planning and budgeting systems.

Findings show that Nairobi’s care ecosystem is active but fragmented, with major gaps in childcare, eldercare, disability support, caregiver training, accessibility, financing, coordination, and infrastructure. More than 60% of respondents rated care services as inadequate or very inadequate, with children, older persons, persons with disabilities, people with chronic illnesses, migrants, refugees, and unpaid caregivers most affected.

The assessment also identified limited institutional capacity in care planning, budgeting, monitoring, data management, and policy implementation across county departments. Despite these challenges, strong political interest and active partnerships with civil society and non-state actors present significant opportunities for reform.

The report recommends establishing a Care Technical Working Group, developing a five-year Care Mainstreaming Strategy, strengthening coordination across departments, investing in caregiver training and infrastructure, improving data systems, and introducing dedicated care budget lines.

With coordinated investment and governance, Nairobi City County can position care as a public good that advances gender equality, social wellbeing, inclusion, and economic development.