In Kenya, where headlines about child abuse and violence increasingly dominate the news cycle, civil society organizations (CSOs) are calling on journalists to go beyond simply reporting the tragedies.
The CSOs are urging the media to take up a more powerful role—amplifying young voices, demanding accountability, and spotlighting not only injustices but also the resilience and courage of children.
This message was at the heart of a recent media sensitization forum held in Nairobi, organized under the umbrella of Joining Forces for All Children—a coalition that includes Plan International, Save the Children, ChildFund, World Vision, SOS Children’s Villages International, and Terre des Hommes International Federation.
The coalition is working to enhance the capacity of journalists to report ethically and sensitively on issues affecting children, while strengthening collaboration between the media and child protection agencies.
Faith Odhiambo, President of the Law Society of Kenya, addressed the forum with a direct challenge to journalists. She urged them to critically examine how they cover child-related stories, stressing the need for consistent follow-up and deeper interrogation of the institutions responsible for protecting children.
Odhiambo referred to a recent case in Kiambu County where a young girl was shot and killed in her home during the Saba Saba protests. While the media widely reported the incident, she questioned whether any effort had been made to track whether justice was served.
“After the headlines fade, what happens next?” she asked. “What is the Ministry of Gender saying? Are child protection agencies responding? Are police investigating thoroughly and transparently? These are the questions journalists should be asking.”
She also cited the shocking case of a nine-month-old baby raped by her stepfather—a crime so brutal that the child’s bones were fractured, leaving her unable to stand. Odhiambo described the pain of seeing the X-ray image and asked where the police and social support systems were in the aftermath of such a tragedy. Without media pressure, she warned, these cases risk being quietly swept under the rug.
According to Odhiambo, the media has a vital role in holding institutions such as the police, the judiciary, and government ministries accountable. She stressed the need for journalists to go beyond reporting incidents and begin questioning the systemic failures behind them—especially the effectiveness of bodies like the Directorate of Gender, Child Protection, and Community Policing within the National Police Service.
Halima Sarah, Child Safeguarding Officer at Plan International Kenya, shared a broader vision for transforming child-focused journalism in the country. She outlined plans for sustained training and capacity building for reporters, emphasizing the importance of equipping them with a clear understanding of the ethical, legal, and policy frameworks that guide child protection.
These efforts, she said, are being rolled out in partnership with media institutions including the Media Council of Kenya, the Kenya Editors Guild, and the Kenya Union of Journalists.
“We want to go beyond awareness,” Sarah said. “This is about enabling journalists to report in ways that are not just ethical and sensitive, but also informed by the law and national child protection policies.”
As part of the initiative, Plan International and its partners plan to develop a joint work plan with the Law Society of Kenya, integrating input from journalists. The work plan is intended to guide future media engagement and to foster stronger links between journalists and key government ministries and departments that touch on child welfare.
Sarah emphasized that these engagements should include ministries such as Gender, Health, Education, and Interior, as well as the National Treasury. By keeping child protection issues visible in the public space and ensuring they are brought before parliamentary committees, she said, the media can help spur meaningful policy reforms and budgetary prioritization.
At the forum, Mercy Njoroge of Journalists for Human Rights highlighted the importance of ethical conduct when interviewing children. She advised journalists to always seek written consent, clearly identify themselves, and disclose where and how a story will be published.
She also emphasized the importance of letting children speak for themselves—rather than relying solely on parents or caregivers—and advocated for support systems, such as counseling services, for journalists, doctors, and police officers who regularly confront trauma involving children.
Awino Nyomollo, Communications specialist at ChildFund, added that while reporting on abuse and injustice is necessary, journalists should also tell stories that celebrate the strength and courage of Kenyan children. Highlighting such stories, she said, offers hope and inspires societal change just as effectively as exposing violations.
“Let’s not only focus on the doom and gloom,” she said. “Let’s showcase the resilience and determination among our children. These narratives matter too.”
The speakers all echoed a common message: empowering the media to report more ethically and thoroughly on child protection issues is not just about improving journalism. It is about saving lives, protecting dignity, and shaping a safer future for the next generation.
Sarah summed it up succinctly: “Every government ministry—whether it’s Health, Education, Gender, or Interior—has a role to play in child protection. And the media must ensure that these institutions live up to that responsibility.”
