This archive report was first published on 10 June 2020.
On June 9, 2020, the Director of Children's Services, Noah Sanganyi, gave a keynote address at the launch of the African Child Day at the NSSF Building, flanked by the Acting Chief Executive Officer of the National Council for Children's Services, Abdi Noor.
The government is working on a statute for children to address emerging issues in the sector, with the Principal Secretary for Social Protection, Nelson Marwa, emphasizing the importance of accessible and friendly justice systems for children.
Kenya has taken steps to ensure that access to justice is a fundamental right and a foundation for promoting all other human rights, as stated in the country's constitution.
The Children Act 2001 entrusts various bodies and actors with the responsibility of securing children's rights and providing welfare and correctional services.
"The Act outlines how children in need of care and protection and those who are in conflict with the law should be handled and sets timelines for which this should be done," said Marwa.
The government acknowledges the work of institutions in the Children Justice System, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, and commends organizations that have continued to support and popularize the toll-free child helpline 116.
Kenya is a signatory to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, among others.
