Hon. Shebesh hosts Day of the African Child in Kajiado County

Chief Administrative Secretary, Hon. Rachel Shebesh has urged state and non-state actors to work expeditiously to eliminate harmful practices affecting children in Kenya.

Hon. Rachel Shebesh was speaking on 16th June when she presided over the celebration of the Day of the African Child at Elangata Wuas Primary School in Kajiado County.

The Day of the African Child brings together Governments, UN Agencies, International Organizations, NGOs, CSOs and other relevant stakeholders once a year to renew the ongoing engagements towards the protection and assistance of children affected by harmful practices.

The Chief Administrative Secretary highlighted the need to accelerate the elimination of harmful practices and called on the local Administrators to enhance their operations and arrest the perpetrators.
“We must assess where we are as far as protecting children from harmful practices such as Female Genital Mutilation and Child Marriage and it must start from the grassroots,” she said.

Every year on June 16th, governments and other stakeholders gather in memory of the 1976 massacre of children in Soweto to reflect on the status of the rights and welfare of children in Africa.

First celebrated in Kenya in 1991, this day provides an opportunity to take stock of the gains that have been made to safeguard the rights and welfare of children and identify gaps.

Also present at the event were representatives from Africa Union, UNICEF Kenya and National and County Government officials.