Hundreds of Kenyans staged a protest in Nairobi’s Central Business District on Monday calling for urgent government action to address cases of missing children, femicide, and infanticide.
The demonstrators declared the killings of women and children a national crisis and urged authorities to strengthen measures aimed at protecting vulnerable groups.
According to data from the Child Protection Information Management System (CPIMS), the government recorded 10,581 child protection cases between January 2025 and March 2026.
The cases included 6,820 incidents of child abandonment, 1,952 child abductions, 1,636 missing children, and 173 cases of child trafficking.
Government Spokesperson Isaac Mwaura said that 2,328 children, representing 22 percent of the reported cases, remain unaccounted for despite ongoing rescue and family reunification efforts.
He noted that Nairobi, Nakuru, Kakamega, Homa Bay, and Kiambu counties recorded the highest number of cases during the period under review.
Data from the National Police Service shows that 754 missing-child cases were reported in 2025, compared to 1,276 cases in 2024.
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Authorities have attributed the heightened public concern to increased awareness and reporting through social media platforms.
However, CPIMS tracks a broader range of child protection issues than police records, making direct comparisons between the two datasets difficult.
In response to the growing concern, the government convened a multi-agency meeting led by Cabinet Secretary for Gender, Culture and Children’s Services Hannah Cheptumo.
The meeting proposed several interventions, including the establishment of a National Child Protection Command Centre, enhanced intelligence sharing among agencies, and the expansion of psychosocial support and rehabilitation services for affected children.
Activists are calling for stronger enforcement measures and greater accountability to safeguard children and women across the country.
By Obegi Malack
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