admin The Ministry of Health (MoH) has announced a nationwide crackdown on public institutions that have failed to establish creche facilities for female employees, warning that continued non-compliance will attract firm legal action.
Principal Secretary for Public Health and Professional Standards Mary Muthoni said the absence of childcare facilities in public institutions has quietly escalated into a national concern, disproportionately affecting young mothers in the workforce and learning institutions.
Muthoni noted that female employees, including teachers, public servants, and students who are new parents, are increasingly being forced to juggle work, studies, and childcare responsibilities under difficult conditions, a situation she said negatively impacts productivity and overall wellbeing.
“We are witnessing young mothers struggling to balance their professional or academic responsibilities with childcare. This distraction affects their mental health, productivity, and ultimately the quality of services delivered to the public,” said the PS.
She observed that although the creche requirement is already anchored in law, many public institutions have treated it casually since its enactment, citing budgetary and logistical challenges. However, she warned that the grace period previously extended by the government has now lapsed.
“As of January, the Ministry will begin firm enforcement of the law. This requirement carries full legal weight, and institutions must comply without exception,” Muthoni emphasized.
The PS reiterated that childcare should not be viewed as a privilege but as a fundamental right and a critical component of a productive and inclusive workforce, adding that supportive working environments are essential for national development.
At the same time, the Ministry raised serious concern over a sharp rise in drug and substance abuse within learning institutions, describing the trend as an emerging crisis that threatens not only schools but also surrounding communities.
According to recent Ministry surveys, an increasing number of learners are being introduced to drugs while in school, with some subsequently spreading the habit to their homes and neighborhoods.
“We will not sit back and watch as this crisis escalates. What begins within school compounds quickly spills into families and communities,” Muthoni warned.
In response to the growing threat, the Ministry of Health has adopted a whole-of-government approach, partnering with the Ministry of Education to roll out joint interventions aimed at curbing drug and substance abuse in schools, beginning next week.
Teachers and school administrators have been urged to remain vigilant and to closely monitor items students bring into learning institutions. The Ministry cautioned that drug manufacturers and traffickers are increasingly targeting children using deceptive tactics.
“Some of these substances are disguised using sweeteners and packaging that closely resembles legal consumer products, making them difficult to detect,” the Ministry said.
Schools have further been directed to allow impromptu inspections of classrooms, dormitories, and other areas where learners spend most of their time, as part of enhanced surveillance and prevention measures.
Heads of institutions, teachers, and discipline officers have also been instructed to immediately intensify checks on learners’ bags and personal belongings and to take swift disciplinary action against offenders in accordance with existing regulations.
The Ministry warned that failure to act decisively could trap an entire generation in a cycle of addiction, insecurity, and lost potential, posing a long-term threat to national development and public safety.
“Without urgent and coordinated intervention, the future of our children and the safety of our communities will be under serious threat,” officials cautioned.
