SPEECH BY HER EXCELLENCY MRS. LUCY KIBAKI, FIRST LADY OF THE REPUBLIC OF KENYA, ON THE OCCASION OF THE OFFICIAL OPENING OF ST. THERESA HOUSE OF HOPE CHILDREN'S HOME, NAKURU, 24TH MARCH 2007

Ladies and Gentlemen,
I am delighted to join you today and to officiate the opening of St. Theresa House of Hope Children's Home. I am encouraged to note that this home is intended to cater for girls orphaned by HIV/AIDS.

I wish to take this early opportunity to express my gratitude to the Little Sisters of St. Theresa Mission for responding to one of the most pressing challenges in our society today. Through this noble initiative, more of our girls orphaned by HIV/AIDS will be able to access essential services as well as the spiritual nourishment they need in order to lead normal lives.

Ladies and Gentlemen,
In our African tradition, orphaned children are taken care of by members of their extended families. Today, however, the devastating impact of HIV/AIDS on the adult population has resulted in large numbers of orphans than extended families can handle. Indeed, while many orphans are still supported by their relatives and other members of their community, an increasing number of orphans are unable to benefit through this traditional system of social security.

Such children who are deprived of care and protection suffer severe deprivations. These deprivations include lack of access to essential human needs such as food, water and shelter as well as basic social services such as education, health-care and sanitation. In the circumstances, these children are exposed to the risk of exploitation, abuse, disease and even premature death.

It is clear, therefore, that orphaned children can only survive through the care and support of society as a whole. We all, therefore, have a moral duty to take appropriate measures to save the lives of orphans in our society by providing the support they require to lead normal lives and become productive citizens. Indeed, it is comforting to note that the concerted efforts of the government, international agencies, charitable organizations and other community groups are enough to alter the course of the crisis of orphaned children.

Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is estimated that we have 2.4 million orphans in Kenya. 60 per cent of these children have been orphaned by HIV/AIDS. As will be appreciated, the Government, international agencies and all other groups in society have a role to play in providing support to this large number of orphans. As regards the role of the Government, I am glad to note that our Government has shown commitment to discharging its responsibility as the ultimate guarantor of the rights of children. As many of you are aware, the Government undertook an assessment in the year 2004 to establish the number of orphans and vulnerable children in the country. This assessment has since paved the way to various programmes of catering for orphans and vulnerable children in the country.

Among the programmes that have been put in place is the Cash Transfer program, which was begun in February 2004. The Cash Transfer program aims at strengthening the capacity of families to raise orphans at the community level through provision of basic necessities. In this program, the Government transfers money every month to each family fostering orphans. It is encouraging to note that in the last financial year, the Government allocated 48 million Kenya Shillings to this program. In the current financial year, this amount has been increased to 56 million Kenya Shillings. This money has benefited poor families in many districts in the country. Indeed, the program is currently operating in 17 districts in the country.

In addition to this program, the Government has developed child adoption regulations with a view to streamlining the process of adoption and protecting the rights of adopted children. Similarly, legal guidelines to regulate charitable children institutions have been developed and gazetted. These are meant to guide the establishment and the management of charitable institutions that cater for children. I take this opportunity to appeal to well-wishers to take advantage of the improved regulatory environment to adopt children and to establish charitable institutions that provide care to orphans.

In addition to these efforts, it must not be forgotten that the Government has opened an urgently needed window of opportunity for millions of orphans and vulnerable children through the free primary education program. Through this program, the Government has now availed to orphans and vulnerable children an opportunity to obtain the knowledge and skills that will secure a decent future for them. Moreover, the Government is providing free anti-retroviral drugs to HIV infected people. This has enabled many infected people to live longer with their children.

Ladies and Gentlemen,
As I have pointed out, the Government cannot be able to adequately address the challenge of orphans single-handedly. I, therefore, appeal to communities, the civil society and the private sector to support the Government in catering for orphans. Such support can be availed through establishing more children's homes as well as strengthening existing homes. In particular, I appeal to corporate firms in the country to support orphans by donating food, land and material goods as part of their corporate social responsibility.

It is important to note that the crisis of orphans, particularly in Sub-saharan Africa, has wide implications for human welfare that extends far beyond Africa, affecting governments and people worldwide. The international community must, therefore, fully embrace the spirit of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, by playing a more proactive role in providing care and hope to orphans. I, therefore, appeal to wealthy nations to keep the issue of orphans high on the global agenda and to provide increased resources as well as technical support to poor countries to enable them cope with the increasing number of orphans.

In conclusion, it is important to note that children orphaned by HIV/AIDS are often stigmatised by society through association with HIV/AIDS. The distress and social isolation experienced by these children is worsened by the shame, fear and rejection that often surrounds people affected by HIV/AIDS. Because of this stigma, children may be discriminated against and denied access to schooling and health care. In other cases, they may also be denied their inheritance and property. This must not be allowed to continue. I call upon all Kenyans to show compassion to orphans by treating them like other children. I also urge the relevant arms of Government, civil society and entire communities to join hands in fighting this stigma and in creating a supportive environment for orphans. It is only in this way that we can demonstrate that we are indeed a caring and humane society.

With these remarks, it is now my pleasant duty to formally open the St. Theresa House of Hope Children's Home.
Thank You and God bless you all.