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Leaders in Gucha and Kenyenya subcounties have expressed concern over increasing cases of child abuse and molestation, particularly against girls, calling for stronger community action and awareness.
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The officials urged collective responsibility in safeguarding children’s rights while linking child welfare to education, environmental protection, and broader social development.
Residents of Gucha and Kenyenya subcounties gathered at Nyansakia Primary School to mark the Day of the African Child, with leaders using the occasion to spotlight rising cases of child abuse and call for urgent intervention.
Led by Nyansakia Location Chief Josephine Nyabwari, the leaders raised concern over increasing incidents of child abuse and molestation, particularly targeting girls, attributing the trend to widespread ignorance of children’s rights.
She called for increased mobilisation of resources to support teachers, social workers and other stakeholders in community sensitisation efforts aimed at curbing the vice.
The commemoration, held annually on June 16 to honour children who died in the 1976 Soweto Uprising in South Africa, was observed in Kisii County on June 17.
The uprising saw thousands of Black students protest against the compulsory use of Afrikaans in schools, a demonstration that ended in a deadly police crackdown and the killing of hundreds of learners. Hector Pieterson, aged 12, became a global symbol of the tragedy.
Established by the Organisation of African Unity, now the African Union-the Day of the African Child serves to reflect on children’s rights and promote the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child. It is anchored on principles including access to education, protection from violence, child participation, cultural identity, and shared community responsibility in child upbringing.
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Speakers at the event linked these principles to current challenges facing children in Kisii, including teenage pregnancy, school dropouts, child labour and early marriage, noting that many cases stem from limited awareness of legal protections under the Children Act and the Constitution.
The event also highlighted environmental conservation. SPAC Chief Executive Officer Dr. Grace Nyaera urged schools, churches and community groups to integrate environmental education into public events, including tree-planting initiatives.
She emphasized the importance of protecting water and trees as key pillars of environmental sustainability and food security, and called for practical youth engagement in waste management and conservation efforts.
Leaders noted that such public forums play a key role in bridging awareness gaps and reinforcing the message that protecting children’s rights is a collective responsibility shared by families, communities and government institutions.
By Enock Okong’o
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