Shine A Light on Child Abuse in Kenya

Childline Kenya's main goal is to stop child abuse in Kenya. We see and look forward to a world where children's rights and dignity are upheld at all times. For this reason we gladly wake up each morning ready to manage the cases reported through the national chiild helpline 116 service which we co-manage with the Government of Kenya through the Directorate of Children Services. In the past three months we have attended to 48,768 calls. Today we share the case of one of our clients who was violated but through the intervention of the child helpline team she was assisted and is on the journey to recovery as she confidently looks forward to justice being served. 

Nature of Case: Defilement

Location: Nairobi

Age: 15 years old

Sex: Female

Betty (not her real name) called the Child Helpline service from Western Kenya. She reported a case of incestuous defilement of her daughter. After closing school, Flora (Not her real name) visited her father in Nairobi as was the custom. This time, unfortunately, her father proceeded to defile her multiple times while in his care. However, it was not until she fell ill that Flora got the courage to tell her mother, Betty, about these incidents. The distraught mother then swiftly reported the Child Helpline 116 for assistance. The Helpline team acted quickly and sought the nearest relative to work with in the case. Luckily Flora’s maternal aunt was found. The aunt, with the backing of the police officers and children officers, quickly rescued Flora from the house and took her to a secure place after getting authority from the police and the children’s office to move the child under these circumstances. Flora was also taken to hospital for medical attention. The police officers also arrested Flora’s father and arraigned him in court. The case is ongoing in court and the child was reunited with her mother. The Helpline counsellor meets with Flora twice a month for therapy as the case continues in court. Flora’s future is bright because of the intervention of the helpline team, thanks to the support that Childline Kenya receives from various quarters including our GlobalGiving donors. This support ensures availability of the helpline service 24/7, every day of the year…such a beautiful gift to the children of Kenya, the gift of availability…always.