By Robert Mutasi 
The County Government of Uasin Gishu is rolling out a plan to improve childcare services inside markets, targeting women traders who struggle to balance work and raising young children.
The initiative is being implemented jointly by the county government, Niera, and Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology (JOOUST). The three partners are conducting collaborative research to come up with childcare solutions that are gender-sensitive and tailored to the realities of market life.
Stakeholders say the challenge is widespread. Many women who sell in county markets are mothers of small children and have no one to leave them with at home. As a result, they carry them to their workplaces, exposing them to harsh market conditions, safety risks and poor hygiene.
“Many of our traders are mothers with children. Our government has said we must address the needs of our children as we support their mothers in business,” an official noted during a stakeholder meeting in Eldoret.
The meeting was aimed at engaging parents, listening to their lived experiences and understanding what kind of childcare support they need most.
According to the project team, the research will inform the design of childcare centres that will offer children a safe, clean and friendly environment to sleep, play, change clothes and eat as their mothers work nearby.
Key focus areas include hygiene, nutrition and quality caregiving. The proposed centres will be required to maintain high standards of cleanliness to protect children from diseases, provide balanced and nutritious meals, and ensure caregivers are properly trained to handle children professionally.
“The unique part of this collaboration is that we are using research to provide evidence to develop services that are sensitive to the needs and realities of women and the market communities,” a representative explained.
Mothers welcomed the proposal, saying it would relieve them of constant worry and allow them to focus better on their businesses. One mother who trades in a local market said having a designated area for children to rest and play would be a huge relief.
“As a mother, having a place for the children to sleep is very good. It has helped us as mothers because there is a place where the children can sleep, they can play and they can change their clothes during the day,” she said.
Officials say the program goes beyond childcare and touches on women’s economic empowerment. When mothers are assured of their children’s safety and well-being, they are more productive, earn more and contribute more effectively to family livelihoods.
The county and its partners have committed to ensuring that the study’s findings are turned into practical interventions that can be set up in markets across Uasin Gishu.
In the long run, the goal is to make all major markets in the county child-friendly, enabling women to pursue their economic activities while their children grow in safe, supportive and nurturing spaces.
Stakeholders emphasized that the success of the initiative will depend on continued partnership between the county, academic institutions, market committees and development partners, with a view to expanding the model to more markets in future.