Find and contact a children's office
State Department for Children Services · sources read 4 Oct 2026
Walk into your nearest Sub-County Children's Office, or call the free Child Helpline 116. Children's officers help with child protection and can mediate disputes over a child's maintenance, custody and access, at no cost.
- Fee
- We couldn't confirm a fee from the official page. Check it there before you pay.
- How long
- A case assessment and plan takes 1 working day. Walk-in visitors should be attended to straight away.
- Where
- Your nearest Sub-County Children's Office, the free Child Helpline 116, or the headquarters at Social Security House, Bishop Road, Nairobi
What you need
- The child's name, age and location, who is involved, and what the problem is
- Any relevant papers you have, such as court orders or the child's birth certificate
Steps
- If a child is in danger right now, call the Child Helpline 116 first. It is toll free.
- Go to the Children's Office in your sub-county. There are 407 sub-county offices across the country, plus county and regional offices.
- Explain the problem to the children's officer. For disputes about a child's maintenance, custody or visits, ask for mediation. You can also be referred through a court, school or health facility.
- For general enquiries or complaints, contact the State Department headquarters at Social Security House, Bishop Road, Nairobi: +254 (020) 2729800 or ps@childrenservices.go.ke.
Watch out
- If a child is at risk of harm, protecting the child comes before any mediation.
- Don't stay away because you lack papers. No child is denied urgent support because documents are missing.
- Children's office services are free. Nobody should ask you to pay.
Who can apply
- Anyone can seek help: the child, a parent, teacher, neighbour, institution or any community member.
Official sources (4)
- Contact Us childrenservices.go.ke · read 4 Oct 2026
- Services childrenservices.go.ke · read 4 Oct 2026
- Service Charter childrenservices.go.ke · read 4 Oct 2026
- Child Protection childrenservices.go.ke · read 4 Oct 2026