The Catholic Diocese of Kitale Child Protection Board has called on the Trans Nzoia County Government to fast-track the adoption and implementation of the County Child Protection Policyto strengthen the protection and welfare of children across the county.
The Board made the appeal during a meeting with Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya at his office. The meeting was requested by the Child Protection Board to present key gaps identified in child protection and seek the Governor’s intervention.
The delegation was led by the Board Chairperson, Mrs. Eva Nyamogo, and included the Diocese Child Protection Officer, Mrs. Rose Obonyo; the National Government Child Protection Officer for Trans Nzoia County, Mr. Oscar Nalimae; and Board members John Bororio, Sarah Nabalayo, Charles Ojelo and Edward Khaoya.
The Child Protection Board was established by Bishop Henry Juma Odonya and has been working to strengthen child protection within the Diocese and the wider community through policy development, advocacy and interventions addressing issues affecting children.
During the meeting, the Board presented findings from a task force established to examine the status of child protection in Trans Nzoia and West Pokot counties and identify existing gaps.
One of the major concerns raised was the need for the County Government to urgently adopt the County Child Protection Policy, which has not progressed beyond the crucial public participation stage.
The Board said that fast-tracking the adoption of the policy would provide a clear framework for coordinating child protection interventions and facilitate the allocation of county resources towards programmes and services targeting children’s welfare.
Another major concern was the condition and capacity of the Child Protection Unit at Kitale Police Station.
The Board called on the County Government to support the construction of a new Child Protection Unit or the renovation of the existing facility to provide a safe and appropriate environment for children requiring protection and assistance.
The Board noted that children in conflict with the law are currently at risk of being held alongside adults due to the lack of an adequate child detention facility.
The Kitale Child Protection Unit also handles children seeking assistance, street-connected children and families, as well as children fleeing harmful cultural practices such as Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), among other cases.
The Board observed that the unit receives a high number of children, partly because of its proximity to the courts and its strategic location, which also enables it to serve children from neighbouring counties.
The police have raised concerns over inadequate facilities and limited resources, including insufficient fuel allocation for child-related interventions, as well as the generally poor state of the existing Child Protection Unit.
The Board said strengthening the facility would provide a safer and more child-friendly environment while ensuring that children in need of care and protection are handled with dignity and in accordance with child protection standards.
Responding to the concerns, Governor George Natembeya expressed support for the initiative and pledged to work with the Catholic Church and the National Government to address the identified gaps.
The Governor committed to fast-tracking the adoption and implementation of the County Child Protection Policy, noting that the policy should be customized to address the actual child protection challenges facing communities in Trans Nzoia.
He emphasized the importance of collaboration between the Catholic Church, County Government and National Government in ensuring that child-centred programmes are effectively implemented.
Governor Natembeya also proposed the incorporation of a representative from the County Government into the Child Protection Board to strengthen coordination and ensure that child protection matters are directly linked to county planning and implementation structures.
The Child Protection Board welcomed the Governor’s commitment, saying stronger collaboration between government and non-state actors would enhance the county’s ability to respond effectively to the needs of vulnerable children.
The Board said the adoption and implementation of the policy, coupled with improved child protection infrastructure and stronger partnerships, would provide a more coordinated approach to addressing issues affecting children in Trans Nzoia County. The engagement marks another step in the Catholic Diocese of Kitale’s continued advocacy for the protection, dignity and wellbeing of children within the county.