Kenya hosts IGAD child protection workshop to tackle regional challenges

Kenya has convened a high-level regional workshop on child protection under the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), bringing together government officials, development partners, and child rights advocates to forge a unified framework for safeguarding children across member states.

Secretary Directorate of Children's Services Shem Nyakutu underscored the urgency of tackling harmful practices such as female genital mutilation (FGM), early marriages, child trafficking, and abuse.

“We must wake up as citizens and protect our children. The government can only do so much; every Kenyan has a responsibility,” said Nyakutu.

Nyakutu highlighted Kenya’s budgetary support for child welfare, noting partnerships with international NGOs like Save the Children and the private sector to boost resources.

He urged county governments to align with the Children’s Act 2022 by enacting complementary policies and establishing child protection centers.

Dr. Harriet Nabukwasi, reproductive health expert at IGAD Secretariat, emphasized the regional body’s role in harmonizing policies, coordinating cross-border interventions, and mobilizing resources to address displacement, trafficking, and climate-related threats to children.

“We promote learning across countries and present children’s issues at the highest policy levels, including to heads of state,” she noted.

Save the Children Kenya’s Head of Advocacy, Sandra Musoga, warned that children in Sub-Saharan Africa remain among the most vulnerable globally, facing barriers in health, education, and protection. She cited climate change, conflict, and online exploitation as emerging threats.

 “We need to move from rhetoric to action, with concrete budgets and enforcement systems to safeguard children,” she stressed.

Participants called for stronger enforcement of existing laws, investment in child-focused programs, and greater involvement of children in shaping solutions affecting their lives. The forum also spotlighted the toll-free helpline 116, which offers support to children facing abuse.