The children’s department in Murang’a County has raised concern over increased cases of child neglect attributing the challenge mainly to disharmony among families especially this time the country is faced by Covid-19 pandemic.
Speaking to KNA in her office, Murang’a South Assistant Director of children services Mary Mburu divulged that Murang’a currently ranked number five among counties with high cases of child neglect.
She said domestic violence has highly contributed to the scenario, adding that her department recorded between five to eight cases of child neglect every day. “When a case is reported to our office we compel the concerned parent to provide for the child and if they fail, we involve police and even courts,” she stated.
Mburu warned parents against child neglect noting that it is a crime in Kenya which attracts up to five-year jail term. “When we neglect children, we risk losing a whole generation that would have been productive in their later years and even look after their parents in old age,” the officer added.
She said neglecting children by not empowering them with education led to a cycle of poverty that in turn negatively affected the society.
The children’s department arbitrates over cases brought to their office by making sure parents and caregivers adhere to the Children’s Act 2001 and the constitution of Kenya Article 53 which states that a child’s best interests is of paramount importance in every matter concerning a child.
Mburu indicated that every Kenyan child has a right to free and compulsory basic education failure to which a parent or caregiver risked being prosecuted for neglect. “In addition to basic education, shelter and healthcare, parents should also protect children from all forms of violence and hazardous or exploitative labour,” averred Mburu.
She explained that most cases of neglect in the county arose from irresponsibility, as a result of being unprepared for parental duties after marriage. “You find that people get married at a young age and then children come with a huge responsibility which they were unprepared for. They thus end up disintegrating and neglecting the children,” she observed.
She urged members of the community to always file a report with the area chief, police or a children office if they suspect or witness a case of a child being neglected or abused.
By Florence Kinyua
