The Machakos Law Court on Friday launched this year’s Children’s Service Month, an annual initiative aimed at securing justice for children and clearing the backlog of children’s cases, while promoting a more compassionate and child-centered justice system.
The event, held at the Machakos Law Court, brought together key stakeholders including the Judiciary, Directorate of Children Services, National Council for Children Services, Law Society of Kenya (LSK), and several civil society organizations, all united under this year’s theme: “Securing Justice for Every Child: Enhancing Multi-Agency Collaboration and Increasing Budgetary Allocation to Combat Child Abuse.”
Lady Justice Esther Nyambura Maina, who presided over the event, emphasized that justice for children goes beyond verdicts. “Even if a case is lost, no child should leave the system feeling ignored. Every child must feel that their pain was acknowledged,” she said.
She highlighted that protecting children’s rights is not the responsibility of the judiciary alone, calling for collaboration and stronger budgetary support to combat child abuse and strengthen referral systems.
Justice Nyambura further emphasized diversion, mediation and plea agreements to help children in conflict with the law learn from their mistakes, rather than face punitive measures.
“Many children don’t need punishment. They need guidance and understanding,” said Lady Justice Nyambura.
Senior Principal Magistrate James Ombura urged parents and guardians to be vigilant during the long school holidays, noting that many defilement and abuse cases arise from lack of parental supervision.
Ombura further encouraged children to report any form of abuse, even by parents, to teachers, friends, or the police, assuring them of full protection by the court.
Representing the County Coordinator for Children Services, Sarah Solomon lauded the Judiciary’s continuous effort to promote children’s welfare and reaffirmed the department’s commitment to work closely with law enforcement and other partners.
“Protecting children is a shared responsibility. We must strengthen our partnerships, share accountability, and allocate sufficient resources to ensure every child’s right to care and justice,” she noted.
The Law Society of Kenya also reaffirmed its role in offering pro-bono legal representation for children, where the LSK called for more funding to expand access to these services and reminded advocates that no child litigant, should ever be charged.
The Judiciary added that focusing on children’s efforts in November, when schools are closed, further aims to finalize pending cases and enable children to return to school in January free from legal disruptions.
The month-long initiative will also include public sensitization on the Children Act 2022, awareness campaigns on children’s rights, and the launch of a Child Holding Facility donated by partners.
The Children’s Service Month, seeks to ensure that children in conflict with the law or in need of care and protection, receive timely and sensitive hearings because many cases often stall during school terms, causing emotional strain and delaying justice.
The Machakos Children’s Court currently handles 120 civil cases such as custody and maintenance, 228 protection and care matters, and 234 criminal cases involving children either as victims or offenders.
So far, 50 cases have been finalized, with the court targeting to conclude at least half of the total caseload by the end of November 2025.
by Ann Wangui
