Govt Unveils New Crackdown on Child Trafficking, Abductions

Kenya, May 25, 2026 - The government has announced a raft of measures to strengthen the protection of children amid growing concern over cases of missing, abducted, neglected and trafficked minors across the country.

Gender Cabinet Secretary Hannah Cheptumo said the State was taking “firm, coordinated and deliberate action” to improve prevention, rescue, recovery and accountability mechanisms.

Speaking after chairing a high-level multi-agency meeting in Nairobi on Monday, Ms Cheptumo said protecting children remained a top national priority.

“The Government is fully seized of this matter and is taking firm, coordinated and deliberate action to strengthen prevention, response, rescue, recovery and accountability mechanisms across the country,” she said.

The meeting brought together representatives from the Kenya National Human Rights Commission (KNHRC), Council of Governors, National Police Service, Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), Child Welfare Society of Kenya, National Council for Children Services and the Street Children Rehabilitation Trust Fund.

Principal Secretary Carren Ageng’o also attended the meeting.

Among the key resolutions reached was the operationalisation of the National Child Protection Command Centre, which will coordinate rapid response and escalation of child protection cases nationwide.

Ms Cheptumo said the government would also strengthen collaboration between children’s services, police, counties and community-based protection structures to improve response to cases involving vulnerable children.

“We agreed on key interventions aimed at enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of child protection systems,” she said.

The interventions include enhanced intelligence gathering, tracing, rescue and recovery operations for missing and trafficked children, as well as improved reporting, referral and case management systems for faster action.

The government also pledged to expand psychosocial support, rehabilitation and reintegration services for affected children.

“Strengthening accountability measures to ensure perpetrators are swiftly brought to justice is a key priority,” the CS said.

She added that the government would continue working with parents, communities, faith leaders, civil society organisations, development partners and the media to increase awareness and vigilance in protecting children.

“The Government remains committed to ensuring that every child in Kenya is protected, every reported case receives prompt action and all institutions charged with child protection effectively deliver on their mandate,” Ms Cheptumo said.