Change the Lives of Child Abuse Victims in Kenya

*KK called the Helpline to report a post he had seen of Facebook by a friend who wanted to sell a 3 weeks old baby boy. To verify the offer, he had contacted his friend who offered him a negotiable price of Kshs 40,000 (USD 471) for the baby. *KK provided the Child Helpline team with the sellers Facebook name and phone number who then commenced an investigation. It was revealed tha the purported seller was actually a broker and the real mother was a 20 year old young woman who was trying to get rid of the child so as to leave the city.

The helpline rescue team posing as potential buyers, finalized on a deal and arranged to meet with both the mother and the broker. With the support of the Kenya Police, the baby was rescued, placed in a children’s home and the duo remanded in police custody. The case against them has already been file in court.

Child trafficking is one of the most difficult cases to investigate and make arrests due to the intricate and slippery nature of the trafficking rings. It is organized crime and requires concerted efforts from both the public and the law enforcement to intervene and stop it. 

From August 2014, Childline in collborations with Terre des Hommes Netherlands and several other partners will embark of an 18 month old project to educate the public on child trafficking and the available protection services for victims of trafficking... Key of them being the Child Helpline 116.

Childline Kenya runs a very active Facebook page where by people get to report abuse of children or seek advice on what to do in the event of it happening. https://www.facebook.com/ChildHelpline116

*Names have been changed for confidentiality purpose

Links:

• World Day against Trafficking in Persons
• Child Helpline 116

Two Brothers Rescued From the Abusive Hands of their Father

The case of twelve year old Kevin* and his six year old brother was reported to the Children Helpline by a journalist working with a community radio station Nairobi. She had received a call on her radio show from a Community Social Worker who presented the case of the two children who were being physically abused by their father and step-mother. The children were also not going to school. Kevin* had been badly beaten and his private parts were swollen making it difficult for him to walk and was therefore bedridden. The neighbors had tried to intervene to have Kevin* taken to hospital but his parents were very hostile. 

When this case was received, the Helpline’s Children Officers planned a rescue operation involving Government Children Officers nearest to the child, The Police, and an ambulance service. With the support of the community members, the children were rescued. Kevin* was taken to the Hospital while his brother was placed at a safe shelter.

Meanwhile the Area Chief and the Children Officers mobilized the community members to locate parents who had since gone missing, arrested them and they could be charged with assault of their children. The case is still in Court and it is our hope that the case will be decided in the best interest of the children and serve as warning to other parents who are assaulting their children.

All these would not have been possible without the collaboration between the child protection actors at different levels and the community. The media’s role in blowing the whistle ensured that the children got assistance before it was too late.

Kevin* is healing well, at least physically but the Helpline counselors will have to take both him and his brother through debriefing and long-term counseling sessions. Once their cases are resolved, they will either be reintegrated back home to live with relatives or moved to a more permanent shelter.

*Names have been changed to protect the identity of the people involved*

Help us reach out to more vulnerable children: http://www.globalgiving.co.uk/projects/change-the-lives-of-child-abuse-victims-in-kenya/

• Help us Save a Child (PDF)