KAKUMA – Over 1,300 parents in Kakuma Refugee Camp and Kalobeyei Settlement are set to benefit from a programme aimed at strengthening positive parenting and protecting crisis-affected children from violence, neglect, and harmful parenting practices. The Parenting Under Pressure (PUP) initiative is being implemented by Plan International Kenya, the Agency for Cross-Border Pastoralists (APAD), and the Turkana County Government to equip parents with skills to cope with stress and provide safe, supportive environments for their children.
The initiative targets 1,320 parents through a comprehensive 17-module curriculum covering positive caregiver-child relationships, parenting-related stress, and child protection. As of August 26, 2026, the first cohort of 728 parents completed the training, while a second cohort of 592 parents is scheduled to begin sessions in the coming weeks.
Attending a PUP session at Kakuma Refugee Camp, Turkana Deputy Governor Dr. John Erus praised the initiative, highlighting that well-nurtured children will contribute directly to the county’s future development. Dr. Erus expressed strong approval for the program’s inclusion of parents with disabilities and its integration of unconditional cash transfers, noting that this approach turns the vulnerabilities faced by refugee families into direct opportunities for improving child welfare. He also commended Plan International for partnering with APAD, emphasizing that local institutional collaborations ensure long-term sustainability beyond the project’s timeline.
Plan International Kenya Country Director George Otim stated that Kakuma was selected due to the acute pressures associated with the refugee crisis, along with recommendations from the Turkana County Government and UNHCR. The PUP programme operates under the 2024–2027 Nurturing Futures initiative supported by Danmarks Indsamling which seeks to improve the wellbeing and protection of children and girls in crisis-affected regions. Otim noted that Plan International actively focuses on underserved communities across Arid and Semi-Arid Lands, particularly within the Kakuma and Kalobeyei refugee settings.
Betty Kinyonge, an officer implementing the Nurturing Futures Project, highlighted the severe environmental and psychological challenges refugee parents navigate daily. Kinyonge explained that raising children in Kakuma Refugee Camp comes with immense daily struggles, and the Parenting Under Pressure initiative aims to equip these parents with the practical knowledge needed to manage stress and raise their children in a healthy, positive environment.
The integration of educational modules alongside financial assistance is delivering tangible results for local caregivers. Refugee parents Nelly Mukucha and Kamariza Aisha, who both completed the 17-module curriculum and received unconditional cash transfers, reported significant improvements in understanding child development and adopting non-violent parenting practices. Mukucha explained that the training equipped participants with essential knowledge regarding early childhood needs for children aged zero to eight, which graduates are now actively sharing with neighboring caregivers. Fellow participant Aisha shared that receiving Sh28,530 in three installments of Sh9,510 allowed her to establish a small business.
The income now helps feed her six children while she applies the PUP stress-management and caregiving lessons at home, demonstrating how combining practical parenting education with direct financial support helps families alleviate stress and build safer home environments.
