Community-based organisations (CSOs) in Kajiado county have set up 94 rescue centres for children escaping harmful practices such as Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and Early Marriages in the county.
In celebration of the Day of the African Child, Samuel Wambugu, the National Director, Compassion International Kenya, said that these centres were essential in educating the community on the effects of these practices.
“We recognise the wide information gap on the harmful practices against children and the extent to which they affect children countrywide. CSOs collaborate with the government and National Child Agencies to conduct civil education across the county,” he said.
The ceremony was held at Elangata Wuas Primary school in Kajiado on Thursday.
Kajiado is among the counties in Kenya where traditions such as FGM and early marriage are still highly entrenched in the community.
These rescue centres, Wambugu said, have assisted in protecting and supporting children who have been exposed to harmful practices.
He said that community dialogues have been initiated that make sure to inform the public that these practices are a violation of human and fundamental rights.
“Harmful practices greatly affect the development of children and sometimes even lead to the loss of life. Ensuring that no child undergoes any of that is a high priority issue,” he said.
Girls are not the only ones at risk from harmful practices as Esther Kuriat, a Director at Compassion International says.
“Boys in Kajiado county also face the challenge of early work such as construction as they are forced to fend for their families and leave school,” she said.
Wambugu added that the Children’s Bill currently in the Senate would be a great boost to the protection of children in Kenya if it is passed.
“The civil society has been part of the National Steering Committee for the review of the bill, mobilising children countrywide to give their views and input in drafting the bill,” he said.
He lauded community stakeholders like teachers and community elders who bravely lobbied for policy and practices fostering the elimination of these harmful practices in their community.
Mary Thiong'o, Assistant Director of the National Council for Children’s Services said that the council was working on sensitising all actors and stakeholders to ensure that children are safeguarded and protected from FGM and early marriages.
