Child Ambassadors Development, a child rights network, has raised the alarm over rising cases of online child sexual exploitation in Kenya.
Davice Wita, the executive director at the organization, noted that a lot of children were being hooked up on Online Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (OCSEA) and end up being sexually exploited by criminals without the knowledge of their parents and guardians.
Wita regretted that the vice has seen young children, especially school girls, suffer psychologically because the online predators use convincing and persuasive tactics like using images of trusted relatives to lure them.
“The internet plays a fundamental role in children’s education and learning experiences since it is one of the largest, easily accessible single sources of information. A significant consequence has been an increased risk for online child sexual exploitation,” he observed.
The child rights champion regretted that the increase in internet availability across Kenya has not been matched by measures addressing how to adequately protect children in this new online environment, further noting that some forms of OCSEA are not explicitly criminalized in the Kenyan Law and most incidents go unreported.
According to the report, 67 per cent (14.7 million) of children aged 12-17 years are internet users. Two thirds of the number have not been taught how to stay safe online.
The report also noted that only 5 per cent of children subjected to online sexual exploitation and abuse report such incidences to the police or national helplines.
7 per cent of the children were offered money or gifts in return for sexual images or videos while 4 per cent were threatened or blackmailed online to engage in sexual activities. Another 7 per cent have had their sexual images shared with others without their permission.
Wita urged teachers, parents and caregivers to keep their children safe online by being aware of internet risks and cyber bullying, their effects and how to respond.
“Parents and teachers need to be able to monitor signs of online sexual exploitation and abuse among children in school,” Wita pointed out.
By Erick Nyayiera
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