The Ministry of Gender, Culture and Children Services has launched a 90-day Rapid Results Initiative (RRI) to tackle rising cases of violence against children in Nyeri, Murang’a and Tharaka Nithi counties.

🇰🇪 Breaking It Down

Cabinet Secretary Hanna Wendot Cheptumo announced the initiative following a high-level Central Region Security and Child Protection meeting on May 14. The response aims to intensify interventions against the mistreatment of children, as well as sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) in the region.

“The Ministry of Gender, Culture and Children Services is deeply saddened by the recent incidents involving violence against children reported in Nyeri, Murang’a, and Tharaka Nithi counties,” she stated.

The CS said the government is monitoring investigations in Murang’a County following the recovery of two children’s bodies from the Kiama River in Gatanga Sub-County, a boy aged about 14 and a girl aged about 9, on May 10.

📌 What You Need to Know

In Tharaka Nithi County, investigations are ongoing to determine the circumstances surrounding a reported murder incident involving the recovery of the body of a missing child in Mukothima. There have also been reports of violence against children in Nyeri County.

“The loss of innocent children is painful, distressing and unacceptable. These incidents collectively point to a worrying trend involving violence, neglect, abuse and exploitation of children. The government remains fully committed to protecting every child as guaranteed under Article 53 of the Constitution and the Children’s Act,” Cheptumo emphasised.

The Ministry has strengthened coordination between the National Police Service (NPS), the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), child officers, community security teams, schools and health institutions to enhance child protection surveillance, emergency response and case management.

Additionally, the CS announced that a multisector meeting will be held on May 22, focused on understanding the causes of rising cases of violence and developing solutions.

The meeting will convene the ministries of Interior, Education, Health, and Gender, the Judiciary, religious leaders, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), county governments, and Community-Based Organisations (CBOs).

Cheptumo directed all relevant government agencies to work toward declaring the Central Region SGBV-free within the next 11 months through prevention, enforcement and community response measures .

📰 Source: Kenyans.co.ke