Turkana nd West Pokot counties have teamed up with Childline Kenya to boost child protection and advocacy as concerns grow over children’s safety.
These agreements aim to close gaps in reporting and managing child abuse cases while enhancing coordination between county and national systems.
West Pokot Governor Simon Kachapin highlighted this partnership as a strong commitment to safeguarding children’s rights and creating a more supportive environment.
The MoU will enhance responses to child exploitation and abuse, a pressing issue locally and nationally. “We want our children to thrive in a safe environment,” Kachapin stated, emphasizing the need for robust systems to combat abuse and neglect.
Childline Kenya, which runs the National Child Helpline 116—a 24/7 toll-free support service—expressed that this collaboration will strengthen local response networks.
Patron Lemarron Kaanto noted that integrating grassroots child protection with national frameworks will boost efficiency and coordination.
Youth and social services executive Lucky Litole mentioned that embedding Childline Kenya’s expertise in West Pokot will significantly improve emergency response times for child welfare.
In Turkana, a similar agreement focuses on enhancing child protection services and emergency responses for vulnerable children, including plans for a social services call center and capacity building for local service providers.
Deputy Governor John Erus emphasized the need for development partners to align with shared goals for effective service delivery, highlighting that protecting children is a collective responsibility.
He raised concerns about the increase in child-led households in Kakuma, where underage girls are becoming parents too early.
Childline Kenya’s executive director, Martha Sunda, shared that this collaboration will bolster community-based protection systems and ensure timely access to emergency services for children and families.
The signing ceremonies brought together senior county officials and Childline Kenya representatives, including Sunda and programme lead Joakim Kamau, along with local partners committed to child rights initiatives.
