Former LSK President Faith Odhiambo has raised concern over a sharp rise in child protection cases across Kenya.
Between January 2025 and March 2026, Kenya recorded 10,581 child protection cases, including 1,952 abductions and 173 trafficking cases, translating to an average of 23 children affected daily.
Recent incidents underscore the severity of the crisis. In Githurai, a two-year-old child was abducted by a teenager allegedly recruited to steal a child in exchange for a mobile phone.
In Juja, residents temporarily shut down the Thika Superhighway after four children went missing within two weeks.
In Central Kenya, authorities documented 372 incidents of violence against children within a year.
Call on DCI and ODPP
Faith Odhiambo has called on the DCI and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions to treat kidnapping and trafficking cases with urgency, emphasizing that existing laws prescribe life imprisonment for offenders but require full enforcement through investigations and prosecution.
“I want to see DCI and DPP match that seriousness with urgent investigations and full prosecutions, not just press releases,” she said.
She further urged Kenyans to remain vigilant and prioritize child safety, stating that protecting children is a fundamental responsibility of society and essential to safeguarding the country’s future.
The situation, she emphasized, should be treated as a national emergency requiring immediate multi-agency intervention, enhanced community reporting mechanisms, and accelerated prosecution timelines.
