PILIPILI: Let’s protect children during August polls and beyond

Every five years, Kenyans go to the ballot to exercise their democratic right by electing leaders who represent them at various levels.

This year, Kenyans will participate in the seventh general election, since the resumption of multiparty democracy.

This election comes at a time when the country is already grappling with the high cost of living, ravaging drought, climate change and effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.

These challenges expose children to untold suffering.

Political analysts have warned that this year’s presidential election is one of the most competitive in Kenya’s history, signalling high chances of a re-run.

A survey conducted by the National Cohesion and Integration Commission and unveiled in May revealed that six counties have a high likelihood of poll-related violence.

In 2007, the re-election of former President Mwai Kibaki saw ethnic violence break out in parts of the country, with about 1,300 people killed and an estimated 650,000 people internally displaced. 

In 2013, the international observers lauded the elections process as peaceful, attributing it to a suppressed long-standing grievance that fuelled the 2007-2008 election violence. 

In 2017, a report by the Kenya Human Rights Commission indicated that 37 people, including children, were killed during the post-election violence.

The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and the UN Guidelines for the Alternative Care of Children stipulate that governments must protect children from violence, abuse and neglect by caregivers. 

The 2019 Kenya Population and Housing Census: Volume III, estimates that almost half the population of Kenya are children.

Whereas children are not voters, if they did, they would be looking at critical issues that affect them now and their life chances in the future.

This includes access to clean, safe, and piped water, access to adequate safely managed quality sanitation and hygiene, electricity connectivity to all schools and homes, sustainable school feeding programme and quality food of nutritious value.

Other issues are their involvement in policy, public planning and budgeting, protection from all forms of abuse, and harmful practices affecting them, and access to all basic services for all children with disability; among others.

Elections affect children both directly and indirectly - a peaceful election guarantees children a safer environment where they can thrive.

A violent election exposes children to election-related tensions, conflicts, violence and forced displacements, and in worst cases, they are killed.

According to the US Department of Justice, children exposed to violence are more likely to have difficulty in school, abuse drugs or alcohol, act aggressively, suffer from depression or other mental health problems and engage in criminal behaviour  such as bullying, vandalism, stealing and skipping school.

This is why all political players should prioritise children’s issues and for the electorate to carefully consider the impact of election decisions on children in Kenya. 

Politicians must desist from using children during their rallies but instead commit to promoting peace and protecting children during and after elections.

Children's Rights Advocate

 

Edited by Kiilu Damaris 

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