AMECEA: An Emotional Moment of Child Reintegration in Kenya’s Homa Bay Diocese
Sr. Jecinter Antoinette Okoth, FSSA
After about five years of staying apart from his family, there was emotional reintegration of a child from Macalder Mine Baby Home to his family in Gwassi Central location, Suba sub-county in Kenya’s Homa Bay Diocese.
As nuisance beach flies welcome a group of over 30 people at one of the beach resorts where the parents of Knox (not his real name) were waiting to receive their child, it was an unusual moment for the pre-primary 1 (PP1) child who was not familiar with such a big crowd of adults.
Knox was admitted to Macalder Mine Baby Home two months after birth when the mother experienced mental health challenges and was not in a position to care for her child. This is one of the rare cases when a child whose parents especially the mother are still alive has been institutionalized.
The re-integration process brought together various stakeholders from two parishes – Macalder and Nyadiwa where the children’s officer, the local authority, Sister in charge of the baby home, representatives from the Association of Member Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa (AMECEA), and the Association of Sisterhoods in Kenya, (AOSK), officially handed over of the child to the family.
Just before releasing the child to the parents Mr. Joseph Ngata the Case Manager AOSK-CCCK (Catholic Care for Children-Kenya) expounded on the various steps involved in child reintegration process.
The children’s officer, Knox’s parents, Sr. Dorcas Atieno in charge of the institution, and Sr. Delvin Mukhwana as a witness, signed various documents which is a requirement for releasing a child back to the family.
Mr. Ngata narrated that the authorized persons are first to sign the bonding form which is a document that highlights the attachment between Knox and the parents.
Other documents that were signed include the certificate of discharge which shows that the Macalder Mine baby home officially released Knox and the certificate of exit which signifies that the child is no longer in the institution but back to the family.
While Sr. Dorcas handed over the child, it was an emotional moment for both the parents and the child who was a bit hesitant and in tears portraying a sense of unfamiliarity, and fear of the unknown as they both tried to understand their situation and come to terms with reality.
The stakeholders promised to journey with the family and follow up on Knox’s reintegration to ensure he finally settles and embraces other siblings whom he had not bonded with yet.
Expounding on the significance of childcare reform, the children’s officer Mr. Joshua Ochieng Ndisio who has been collaborating with the sister in charge of Macalder Mines baby home said, “Children’s Act in Kenya highlights that child institutionalization should be the last resort in the country.”
He asked the parents of Knox to ensure that the child enjoys his rights including basic needs and education.
