MOMBASA, Kenya—The Judiciary has called for stronger collaboration among government agencies, civil society organisations and communities to protect children and accelerate the resolution of cases involving minors as Kenya marks 10 years of Child Justice Month.
Tononoka Children’s Court Presiding Magistrate Nelly Chepchirchir said the annual November initiative provides an opportunity to prioritise children’s cases, address case backlogs and promote child-friendly justice processes.
Speaking during the launch of this year’s celebrations in Mombasa, Chepchirchir said the initiative, initially observed for one week, was extended to a month due to the high number of cases involving children.
She said the Judiciary was promoting alternative approaches, including diversion, mediation and Alternative Justice Systems (AJS), to reduce lengthy court proceedings involving minors.
“The child is not the only focus; we are also safeguarding childhood. A child needs to feel protected not just by the courts but by the entire community,” she said.
Chepchirchir said children’s cases handled by the court generally involve parental disputes over children’s rights, minors in conflict with the law and protection matters involving children requiring care and safety.
Meanwhile, Shimo La Tewa Borstal Institution and Boys Education Centre Superintendent-in-Charge Professor Jostinah Wawasi Mwang’ombe called for greater investment in prevention, rehabilitation and reintegration rather than punishment of children in conflict with the law.
Mwang’ombe, a Commissioner of Prisons, said Shimo La Tewa accommodates boys aged 15 to below 18 years, while the Youth Corrective Training Centre handles young offenders aged between 17 and 21 years.
She said children committed to borstal institutions are given an opportunity to return to their families after 12 months, with probation officers supervising them during the remaining period to support their reintegration.
She emphasised the importance of addressing underlying factors that expose children to criminal behaviour, including sexual and gender-based violence, family challenges and emotional distress.
Blue Heart Internationalisation Organisation representative Nadeem Khan said civil society organisations also had a responsibility to support child protection initiatives.
Khan said his organisation supports victims of human trafficking and child abuse and had established a children’s corner at the Mombasa court to provide a more welcoming environment for minors attending court proceedings.
He urged civil society organisations to strengthen partnerships with the Judiciary to ensure children receive appropriate care and protection.
This year’s Child Justice Month marks a decade since the initiative began under the theme, “Strengthening Multi-Agency Action to Safeguard Childhood Beyond Policy Commitments: 10 Years On Through Multiple Pathways of Child-Centred Justice.”
