- Finn Church Aid has intensified child protection and online safety sensitisation in Kipkomo Sub-County, West Pokot, targeting learners in primary and junior schools.
- FCA official Dan Kosgey sensitised pupils on physical, emotional and sexual abuse, child rights under Article 53 and the Children Act 2022, and the four principles of child rights.
- Learners were warned about cyberbullying, grooming, sextortion and scams, and urged to protect passwords, avoid sharing personal data and report abuse to trusted adults.
Finn Church Aid (FCA) has intensified child-protection awareness among learners in its beneficiary primary and junior schools in Kipkomo Sub-County, West Pokot County.
The organisation sensitised both boys and girls on children’s rights, prevention of abuse and exploitation, and the growing dangers children face in the digital space.
Speaking during the sessions, Mr. Dan Kosgey, the officer in charge of FCA programmes in West Pokot, urged learners to understand their rights, recognise situations that expose them to harm and speak up whenever their safety is threatened.
Kosgey explained that child protection involves preventing and responding to violence, abuse, neglect, exploitation, harmful practices and other forms of harm. He noted that such risks can occur at home, in school, within the community and increasingly through phones and digital platforms.
He sensitised learners on physical abuse, including hitting, beating and burning, as well as emotional and psychological abuse involving threats, humiliation, intimidation and persistent criticism. Sexual abuse and exploitation, neglect, child labour, trafficking, harmful cultural practices, violence and bullying were also discussed.
The FCA programme anchored the sessions on children’s rights under Article 53 of the Constitution of Kenya and the Children Act, 2022. Learners were reminded that Kenyan law recognises a child as a person below 18 years and provides protection for rights to education, healthcare, nutrition, shelter, parental care, privacy and protection from abuse, neglect and harmful cultural practices.
Learners were also introduced to four key principles of child rights: non-discrimination, the best interests of the child, survival and development, and participation. Kosgey emphasised that every child deserves protection without discrimination.
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Tackling Online Dangers and Promoting Digital Safety
A significant part of the programme addressed online safety, reflecting increasing exposure of children to smartphones, social media and online games.
Kosgey warned that while technology provides opportunities to learn, it also exposes children to cyberbullying, online grooming, cyberstalking, sextortion, online sexual exploitation, inappropriate content, scams, privacy violations and contact with dangerous people.
He explained that cyberbullying involves using phones or social media to bully or harass, while online grooming involves building trust with a child for exploitation.
“Do not allow anyone online to pressure you into doing something that makes you uncomfortable or afraid. If someone threatens you, asks you to keep secrets, demands inappropriate photographs or tries to meet you secretly, tell a trusted adult immediately,” Kosgey advised.
He urged learners to keep passwords and PINs private, avoid sharing personal information such as home address or school location, and think carefully before posting photos or videos. He cautioned against opening suspicious links and downloading unknown files, and encouraged use of age-appropriate sites.
Shared Responsibility in Child Protection
Kosgey stressed that abuse is never the fault of the child and encouraged learners not to remain silent. He urged them to report concerns to trusted adults, including parents, caregivers and teachers.
He emphasised that child protection is a shared responsibility. Parents must provide care and supervision, schools and teachers must identify risks and report concerns, while children’s services, healthcare workers, police, justice institutions, communities and organisations form the wider protection system. The Communications Authority of Kenya also plays a role in promoting online safety.
The sensitisation reached both boys and girls equally, reinforcing the need for equal attention and protection. Kosgey encouraged learners to look out for one another, avoid bullying and support peers facing abuse.
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The sessions used discussions, Q&A and practical scenarios to link messages to everyday life.
Kosgey called for continuous sensitisation in schools across Kipkomo and West Pokot, noting awareness should not be a one-off activity. He urged teachers and parents to create safe environments where children can disclose abuse without fear, shame or intimidation, with strong reporting and referral mechanisms.
The programme reinforced that every child has the right to safety, dignity, education, care and protection, and that collaboration between families, schools, communities, government agencies and partners is essential for safe learning environments in West Pokot.
By Hillary Muhalya
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