Kiambu County Deputy Commissioner Titus Macharia wants digital content for children to facilitate their access to critical information about their rights and freedoms.
He said the digital space would provide a unique opportunities for children to realize their full potentials but urged administrators to ensure that their rights were upheld as enshrined in the constitution of the country.
“Children have a right to nationality and free basic Education and in this era we are encouraging children to create content through the Digital Space and look for channels that are educative and can advance their skills and talents” he said.
Macharia however cautioned that access to online platform must be jealously guarded to protect the children against the challenges that comes with Digital Space including as cyber Bullying, gambling and addiction
County’s children’s Coordinator Rose Mbarine on the other hand told a celebration marking this year’s International Day of the African Child that children were vulnerable to abuse unless deliberate measures were placed to protect from the predatory habits.
”You should always tell a trusted adult if anyone make you feel uncomfortable, asks to meet with you or even share personal informational or images,” she said
She challenged the more than 100 CCI’s working in local children’s homes in Kiambu to intensify their vigilance by encouraging children to speak up by telling a trusted adult if they felt uncomfortable with anyone before it was too late.
The Director called upon the children and encouraged them not to trust everything they see in the digital space and even physically. The celebration which kicked with a processing along the streets of Kiambu was held in Ngegu, Napasta Children Centre.
The Social Services County Coordinator Kiambu County Grace Mbugua took the opportunity to announce plans to introduce a feeding program for at least 42,000 pupils attending ECD classes in all public schools in Kiambu
”We will be giving out porridge and eggs. The initiative will commence in the 3rd term and we have set aside bursaries allocation for needy children including those with disabilities” she said.
In this calendar year, Mbugua said that they have already give Kshs 100 million for bursaries and will be giving another Ksh 100 million in the next month of July adding that a similar amount will be released for the third term making a total of Ksh 300 million for bursaries from the County Government of Kiambu
The Social Services Coordinator said sanitary wear will also be distributed in all the public Institutions to the girls adding that at least 31,000 packs will be released in the next 2 weeks.
Mbugua announced that a policy paper on children was drafted awaiting presentation and subsequent enactment to ensure the right of children were protected and their needs and privileges met.
She said the Directorate of social services had set aside a budget allocation for people with disability by offering wheelchair, assistive devices, walking sticks, braille equipment to children with Special needs.
Natasha Shekinah the Kenya Children’s Assembly Governor Kiambu who is representative of the children stated that, digital environment can greatly enable and enhance children’s access to high-quality education materials and resources.
All children must have equitable and efficient access to the digital world in ways that are personally important to them in order to fully exercise their right against discrimination, she said.
“The Government policies should be in a way that will see children be protected. The right to non-discrimination requires that all children have equal and effective access to the digital environment in ways that are meaningful for them and that they are able to overcome digital exclusion.” Shekinah said
Shekinah stated that the Digital Divide has 2.2 billion children and young people under 25 years who around the world do not have access to Internet.
“Respect to our views as children, our voices need to be heard in matters that affects us. Digital technologies can help us participate in the national and international levels,” she reiterated
She urged the government to continue protecting the children saying that it was their right to have a life protected from risks.
The International Day of the African Child has been observed on June 16 every year since 1991, it was first initiated by the OAU Organization of African Unity.
By Elizabeth Wanja and Purity Yego
