Orphaned children´s school attendance in Kenya

Abstract

This paper aims to investigate how school attendance differs for orphan children living at orphanages and orphan children living in the family based care called “Kinship care” in Nairobi, Kenya. The data was retrieved through qualitative interviews with 55 orphan children in Nairobi during a five weeks period in April and May 2016. The answers from the two groups of children are analysed with economic theory to see which group has the best possibilities to get a high human capital. The children living at orphanages have higher school attendance, better access to textbooks outside school and school uniforms in better condition and do therefor have better possibilities to gain a high human capital. The lack of money is often an underlying reason that orphans living with family members miss school. Orphanages do not have the same economic restrains as relatives that take on orphans. One example of a children institution that supported family homes was encountered. This solution was equal to living at the orphanage regarding school attendance.