THIKA, Kenya – The Kenyan Government has escalated its efforts to combat online child abuse and sexual exploitation, acknowledging a rise in such incidents with the advancement of technology. Labour and Social Protection Cabinet Secretary Florence Bore announced the implementation of a National Action Plan aimed at addressing this growing concern.
According to Kenya News Agency, Speaking at Kusitawi Village Children’s home in Thika East during World Children’s Day celebrations, Bore revealed that a new department under the Directorate of Children Services has been established to implement online child protection services. This initiative comes amid alarming statistics indicating an increase in teenage pregnancies across the country.
Data from the Kenya Health Information Systems showed that, in the first five months of 2023, there were 110,821 recorded pregnancies among adolescents aged 10 to 19. This number includes 6,110 pregnancies among those aged 10 to 14 years, and 104,711 among adolescents aged 15 to 19. These figures represent a significant portion of the total recorded in the previous three years.
“This has to stop,” Bore stated, emphasizing the government’s commitment to stringent measures and collaboration with stakeholders to combat this issue. She was joined by Principal Secretary Joseph Motari and Thika MP Alice Ng’ang’a at the event.
The Cabinet Secretary also expressed concern about parental violence against children, especially during holidays. A 2019 National Violence Against the Child survey report highlighted that over 50 percent of children have experienced at least one form of violence. Bore urged children and caregivers to report any form of threat, harassment, abuse, or punishment through a designated hotline.
Ng’ang’a called for life sentences for defilers, arguing that harsher penalties would serve as a deterrent. The event also saw the launch of ‘The transitioning and child welfare guidelines,’ aimed at enhancing the transitioning of children in care homes back into families and communities.