Children in Samburu County commemorate the Day of the African Child

June 17, 2013…On Sunday,thousands of children joined by their parents, community leaders, government representatives and civil society organizations gathered at Kisima high school in Samburu County in northern Kenya, to mark the Day of the African Child (DAC). The day is marked every year, June 16, to commemorate the school going children who were killed in Soweto, South Africa in 1976 while advocating for their rights to quality education. 

This year’s theme was: Eliminating harmful cultural and social practices: Our collective responsibility, and the national celebrations were held in Samburu County-a county where some of the retrogressive cultural practices such as early /child marriage, female genital mutilation (FGM), beading and ‘moranism’ continue to thrive.

The children who expressed most of the issues affecting them through songs, poems, personalized letters written to the leaders, made a passionate appeal: we ask you leaders, please look into these issues affecting children and take action. “The African child should not only be remembered during the Day of the African Child but should be in your hearts every day,” they said.

Helen Waweru, Chairperson National Council for Children’s Services (NCCS) a government agency mandated to oversee coordination of child rights and welfare activities, reiterated the government’s commitment to protect the rights of the Kenyan child.

“The constitution in article 53 talks about the elimination of all harmful cultural practices such as FGM, early marriages and all forms of abuse and violence against children and today we are saying that such practices do not enhance the well being of the children,” Ms. Helen said.

“For this county to develop we need to eliminate such harmful practices by educating the mothers, the community, and by the community beginning to change their attitudes,” she noted.

This day is an important one

World Vision Kenya National Child Rights Coordinator, Caroline Nalianya said the day was a very important day to commemorate some of the huge sacrifices made by those who lost their lives in South Africa.

“But this day is also important because every year we highlight harmful practices affecting the child and ways in which children’s rights are violated and lobbying for action to bring to a halt such practices,” Caroline noted.

The Christian non-governmental organization working in the Samburu County has continued to support initiatives such as education that has largely contributed to keeping children in school.

“Beading of young girls is unacceptable, and so is FGM, early child marriage, herding by boys and moranism, all these practices keep both the boy and the girl child away from school. We are therefore appealing to the community, release your children and give them an opportunity to go to school and receive an education which is their right,” Caroline said.

FGM remains at almost 100% in the county

Josephine Kulea, Director of Samburu girls foundation, regretted that FGM in the county remained at almost 100 percent, that means it is still widespread even though it was being reported that the practice had declined dramatically.

The representative to the governor, Mr. Wilfred Nyawanga said the statistics in Samburu County indicated that FGM contributed to 35 percent drop out of girls from school.

Sixteen-year-old, Faustina Nateleng, deputy governor children’s parliament in Samburu county pointed out that some of the greatest challenges facing the girl child in Samburu is female genital cutting-FGM, early marriage, girls only being viewed as property and a source of income for the family, ignorance of parents on the importance of educating the girl child while preferring to educate the boy child.

Some of the challenges mentioned that if addressed could significantly help in serving and meeting the needs of the children were lack of rescue centres in the county, lack of child counselors in schools, and not giving value to education. Currently, there is only one-the Samburu rescue centre.

Government and NGOs vowed to continue working together to defend the rights of the children and also sensitise the communities to speak out against harmful cultural practices affecting the children.

What is World Vision doing

World Vision is advocating in the community of Samburu, to sensitise community leaders and create awareness of the harmful effects of FGM on the girls. Due to low levels of education, it is very important that the community is educated on some of these issues which are deeply rooted.

In addition to advocacy, World Vision has also been working with the Samburu Girls Foundation to help the rescued girls find safe havens in the rescue centres. When Community Health Workers hold their trainings they integrate anti- FGM trainings and sensitizations into those trainings.