Parents across the Nyanza region have been urged to exercise increased vigilance following growing concerns over reported cases of child kidnapping and trafficking targeting school-going children.
Speaking in Kisii, former Machige Bassi Member of County Assembly (MCA) Roseline Orondo called on families to take proactive measures to safeguard children, warning that criminal networks are allegedly exploiting vulnerable school routes and transport points.
Orondo said she could not remain silent as parents continue to endure distress linked to the reported incidents, noting that child kidnapping has far-reaching psychological and social consequences for both victims and their families.
She observed that children who are abducted and later rescued or those who manage to escape; often suffer long-term trauma, including anxiety, depression, nightmares, and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Parents, she added, are similarly affected, experiencing prolonged emotional distress, guilt, and loss of sleep long after such incidents.
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According to Orondo, perpetrators often target children commuting between home and school, particularly around school transport points. She alleged that some attackers monitor school vans, striking when children are alighting or boarding before guardians are present.
She urged parents to work closely with school administrators, especially in private institutions, to strengthen child safety measures. She also emphasized the importance of promptly reporting missing children to police to enable swift response and investigation.
Beyond the immediate trauma, Orondo warned that such crimes can destabilize family structures. She noted that disappearances often lead to blame, internal conflict, and, in some cases, separation or breakdown of marriages. Siblings, she added, may grow up with heightened fear and insecurity that affects their development and relationships.
She further cautioned that the impact extends to education and household finances. Missing children may lose months or years of schooling, while fear among other learners can reduce school attendance in affected areas.
Families, she said, often incur heavy financial burdens through ransom demands, private investigations, and counselling or medical care.
Orondo called on parents to closely monitor children’s movements, educate them on stranger awareness, and report any suspicious activity to authorities without delay.
By Enock Okong’o
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