Millie Odhiambo warns of online predators amid 8,800 missing children cases

The government has been urged to prioritise internet safety for children as the world marked the International Day of Missing Children.

While joining in the celebrations on Saturday, Suba North Member of Parliament Millie Odhiambo warned that malicious individuals and predators are using online platforms to lure and abduct children, contributing to the increasing number of missing children.

“We must have a conversation as a country about the appropriate age for children to access online content. Right now, children are accessing content that is not appropriate,” said Millie, noting that a discussion around age limits would go a long way in protecting children.

Millie further pointed out that some content creators produce highly explicit material, which children should not be exposed to.

“Part of the problem we have as a country is that our children are getting too much negative content. As a country, we must discuss this issue,” she said, adding that there is a need for accountability rather than regulation.

The Member of Parliament, who is also a human rights lawyer, further asked the government to hold those who spread false information accountable.

The International Missing Children’s Day is observed globally each year on 25 May.

Speaking during the commemoration, the Principal Secretary in the Department of Child Welfare, Carren Agengo, said that Kenya has been plagued by cases of missing children, with more than 8,800 children reported missing from their families.

Even as the country grapples with these cases, the PS noted that over 2,300 of the missing children have been rescued and safely reunited with their families.

She termed this a success attributed to strong collaboration between the government, civil society organisations, and the public.

“We need to take the issue of child protection seriously and ensure that we protect our children,” said PS Agengo, adding that there is a need to rehabilitate the rescued children.

“There is a lot that goes into child welfare, which is why we are asking for a substantial budget to support it,” Ms Agengo said, adding that a proposal for an increased allocation has been submitted for the upcoming financial year.

The commemoration of the Day of Missing Children seeks to raise awareness about the risks of child disappearances and to reinforce strategies for their protection.

Various non-governmental organisations emphasised the importance of sensitising the community about the significance of the Day of Missing Children.

However, despite their efforts, they face several challenges in the process of tracing and rescuing missing children. Among these challenges are the lack of timely and accurate information, as well as limited cooperation from some communities.

Grace Wanjiru, from Forum for Women, noted that many missing children do not have their parents’ contact information, making efforts to reunite them more difficult.

While many missing children remain unaccounted for, a 2007 UNICEF study estimated that over 200,000 children in Kenya are in children’s homes and about 300,000 others are living on the streets, with some unaccounted for and possibly in harmful situations.

Between January and May 2022, the Child Protection Information Management System (CPIMS) reported 6,374 children missing, averaging a total of 18 children lost per day.

Between July 2022 and May 2023, CPIMS reported 6,841 missing cases, with just over 1,200 children reunited with their families.

Tulivu Safe Haven, a gender-based and child welfare organisation, noted that most missing children are found abused, dead, or never found at all.

According to Bramwel Waka, from Consolation East Africa, a child protection organisation that also counters human trafficking, most missing persons cases involve children under the age of 18.

“Identifying missing persons is one of our biggest challenges. Mostly, orphaned and vulnerable children are reported missing, which makes it difficult to identify them,” Mr Waka said.

He added that traffickers are often close associates, including family members and powerful figures, who make it difficult to fight back.

In the fight to rescue children, Mr Waka said that financial constraints severely hinder their efforts.

He urged parents to ensure children know their parents’ identification numbers and mobile phone numbers to help with rescue efforts and reduce the number of missing children.