Eldoret High Court Presiding Judge, Justice Reuben Nyakundi, has affirmed the government’s commitment to protect and promote the rights of children by ensuring access to quality education, shelter, food, healthcare and others to preserve the next generation, which is the foundation of the national heritage.
He spoke when he graced The Day of the African Child 2025 with the theme, “Planning and budgeting for children’s rights: progress since 2010,” in Eldoret, Uasin Gishu.
The day is celebrated annually on June 16 to commemorate the 1976 Soweto uprising and advocate for the rights and well-being of African children, such as access to quality education, healthcare, and protection from violence and exploitation.
“In Kenya, we are keen to protect and promote the rights of children, because in any country, the heritage comes from children, they are the foundation and vital resources of our country and we must plan and budget for their rights,” noted Justice Nyakundi.
Noting that the protection and promotion of children’s rights begins from the society, Justice Nyakundi called on all stakeholders and parents to cultivate an enabling environment to uphold the rights by planning and budgeting sufficiently at the household level to provide for the needs of the children, like food, shelter, education and others.
He indicated that proper planning and budgeting help in good decision-making and the empowerment of children.
He further underscored that there is a need for accessible, quality education for every child in the continent, noting that the theme highlights the need for strategic investment in children’s wellbeing and development to build a prosperous and stable Africa.
“It is important to set aside a budget so that the children’s rights are fulfilled. We are keen as the judiciary to ensure that children’s rights are protected. The foundation of children’s rights takes root from the society to the national level,” he emphasised.
In his remarks, Turbo Deputy County Commissioner (DCC) Mohamud Hassan emphasised that the government, through the Ministry of Interior, ensures all the rights and freedoms of children are safeguarded.
“We are committed to ensuring a safe school and learning environment for our children, a school that is inclusive for all the children in our country,” noted the DCC.
He highlighted significant steps the government has taken to ensure the rights of children are protected like the employment of 76000 teachers in Last year alone to ensure quality education.
Mohamud noted that they also ensure gender inclusivity through targeted policy and programmes to ensure the needs of all children, including those with special needs, are well taken care of.
He urged parents to prioritise the education of their children no matter the challenges they are facing.
“We provide a conducive environment for learning. We educate about talents, drugs and others so that we have a conducive learning environment and ensure that our children are safe when learning,” explained Hassan.
Uasin Gishu County Children’s Officer Alice Wanyonyi called on all government agencies and stakeholders to take part in the protection and promotion of children rights by proper planning and budgeting to empower them through various initiatives focused on education, healthcare, protection, and participation.
Children’s guest speakers during the event led by Mercy Chepkosgei highlighted that every development plan, whether national or local, must deliberately prioritise children’s needs in education, healthcare and protection.
They called for increased budget allocation for children’s welfare, noting that a nation’s commitment to children should be evident in how it spends its money, investing in the welfare of children is an investment in a stronger, more equitable future.
Targeted interventions, plans must address the unique needs of vulnerable groups such as girls, children in conflict zones, and those living in rural communities. Youth Participation, their voices must be heard, valued, and integrated into policy-making and planning processes,” noted Chepkosgei.
To ensure transparency and accountability, the children’s guest speakers advocated that communities and civil society must be empowered to track government spending to ensure resources truly reach the children.
By Ekuwam Sylvester and Dorothy Chepkwemoi
