During the celebration of the 2023 Day of the African Child, the Busia County Government in collaboration with the National Council on the Administration of Justice (NCAJ) and Busia County Civil Society Organizations network launched the training manual for mitigating Online Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (OCSEA).
Speaking at the celebration held on 16th June 2023 at Mungatsi Primary School in Nambale sub-county under the theme: The Rights of the Child in the Digital Environment, Lady Justice Theresia Matheka, underlined the importance of defending children’s rights on various digital platforms, adding that the manual will tremendously assist in combatting OCSEA, which is prevalent in the country.
She noted that Kenya has embraced technology almost in every sector and that we cannot run away from it but rather we can always develop comprehensive legal frameworks and policies that will help in mitigating the OCSEA.
According to Ms Mary Makokha of the Rural Education and Economic Enhancement Programme (REEP), a representative of the Busia County CSOs Network, the day provided an opportune time for state and non-state actors to reflect on how children in Busia County can live in an environment free of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) both online and offline, given the county’s rise in violence against children.
Similar events were staged in Baringo, Kwale, and Kajiado counties, with clear appeals to the public to protect children from OCSEA dominating the proceedings. Ag. Chief Magistrate Lady Justice Judith Wanjala of the Kabarnet Law Court said that through the usage of digital spaces and the internet, children are now able to testify or function as witnesses without attending court hearings. However, she called for the proper use of digital spaces. “We are in a digital world, we cannot avoid being in a digital environment, all we can do is be careful while using it because there are laws governing the use of the internet,” she said.
While in Kajiado County, Ibisil ward area chief, Mr Ngaru Oluma asked parents to supervise their children’s phone usage, which he said had considerably contributed to sexual exploitation, leading to an increase in teen pregnancies in the county.
In Kwale County, the Deputy Governor, H.E Josphat Chirema, said that the county government will boost the bursary kitty for children in primary and junior secondary schools to keep them in school and safeguard them from various sorts of exploitation including OCSEA.
Collaborative Centre for Gender and Development with support from various partners including UNFPA Kenya, WE-effect and Mastercard Foundation contributed to supporting this year’s Day of the African Child celebrations in Baringo, Kwale, Busia and Kajiado counties.
By Sharon Ngaira and Janet Ongoli
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