Children have a right to access information, express their views freely, and participate in digital platforms, but with the guidance of a responsible adult, Narok West Deputy County Commissioner Darusi Muyesu has said.
Muyesu, who spoke during the celebrations of the Day of the African Child held at Lemek area, asked children to report any abuse they experience online to their parents, guardians, and relevant authorities or call the toll-free child helpline, 116.
“The digital environment is good for the development of the nation, but we should also do it in a certain measure so that it cannot harm our children by exposing them to immoral behavior,” he said.
Muyesu said every action the children take on social media platforms has consequences and asked them not to engage with strangers online before seeking guidance from a responsible adult.
The Day of the African Child is celebrated every June 16th to commemorate the Soweto children’s uprising of 1976, during which thousands of South African students protested the apartheid government’s use of Afrikaans as their language of instruction in Bantu schools.
This resulted in the deaths of hundreds of students and is considered a turning point in the struggle against apartheid.
The day is an opportunity to promote the rights of the African child, which include their rights to protection from all forms of violence but also their rights to participation and expression of opinion. This year’s theme is Rights of the Child in the Digital Environment.
Muyesu challenged the children to be disciplined and focused when in school so as to be professionals in the future.
He called on all stakeholders to work together to promote the wellbeing of children by mentoring them and living as role models.
Narok Gender Director Agnes Ngeno said teenage pregnancy prevalence in the county had dropped from 40 per cent in 2014 to 28 per cent in 2022.
She said the drop was triggered by the close collaboration of all child stakeholders, who worked hand in hand to ensure the girls were sensitized against engaging in sexual intercourse.
Ms. Ngeno asked residents to drop retrogressive cultural practices like Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and early marriages that compromised their bright future.
She asked the children to be their brothers’ and sisters’ keepers by reporting any form of abuse they face.
The celebrations were sponsored by the Children’s Office in collaboration with World Vision, Youth Alive Kenya, Afyafrika, and We World, among others.
By Ann Salaton
