Kapenguria Law Courts has launched the Children Service Month in an event held at Chepkoech Primary School in Kipkomo Sub-County, calling on the government and partners to increase funding to guarantee child-friendly justice systems.
The launch was presided over by High Court judge Lady Justice Roseline Wendoh together with Principal Magistrate Stella Telewa and other stakeholders in children’s justice.
Held under the theme “Enhancing Child Justice through Preliminary Inquiry and Diversion: Promoting Rehabilitation, Reintegration, and Dignity for Children in Conflict with the Law,” the initiative runs through November to fast-track children’s cases and raise public awareness on child rights.
Kapenguria Principal Magistrate Stella Telewa affirmed that the court has strengthened collaboration with all stakeholders handling children’s matters in West Pokot County.
Telewa said the judiciary is committed to ensuring that children’s cases are handled within the recommended six-month period to avoid delays that negatively impact on them.
“We have 77 active children’s cases at Kapenguria Law Courts, and since the service month began, several have already been concluded,” she said.
She urged parents to be more involved with their children during the long holiday, warning that lack of parental guidance exposes children to risky behaviours.
Telewa encouraged parents to support the CBC’s practical activities at home and involve children in sports, church programmes and other recreational activities.
Justice Roseline Wendo noted that many courts in Kenya are not child-friendly, and the ongoing equipping of a designated children’s courtroom at Kapenguria is incomplete due to funding gaps.
She decried the judiciary’s reliance on donor support and called for increased budgetary allocation from the government.
“The Judiciary need adequate resources and dedicated child-friendly facilities,” she said.
County Director of Children’s Services Philip Wapopa said Kapenguria law court currently has 77 children’s cases, 40 of which are sexual offences.
He linked the high number of defilement cases to rising early pregnancies and warned that FGM cases spike during the November-December holidays.
Wapopa urged community members to support cases promptly and emphasised the need for more resources for children’s services, probation offices, police, and other justice actors.
Caroline Menach, principal of St Elizabeth Girls and director of Perur Rays of Hope Organisation, praised the service month for creating awareness of children’s rights and helping communities understand the functioning of children’s courts.
Menach highlighted the role of local shelters such as St Elizabeth’ Shelter, supported by GVRC, the Embassy of Denmark, Mastercard Foundation, and Global Give Back Circle, which provide refuge, education, psychological support, and economic empowerment for girls escaping FGM or sexual violence.
She called for multi-agency collaboration and increased budget allocation to child protection systems.
Kipkomo Deputy County Commissioner Sheila Imbanga urged parents to be extra vigilant during the long holiday, noting that children are highly vulnerable to teenage pregnancies, early marriages, and defilement during the holiday period.
She warned perpetrators that the government will take firm action, especially against those who relocate girls after FGM to conceal the crime.
West Pokot advocate Geoffrey Lowasikou stressed the importance of legal representation for children in conflict with the law.
Lowasikou underscored the role of diversion programmes, which focus on rehabilitation rather than punishment.
He criticised parents who hide crimes involving their children whether as victims or offenders warning they could face charges for obstruction of justice or child neglect.
Lowasikou echoed increased funding to the judiciary to strengthen outreach and child justice programmes.
Across all agencies including judiciary, children’s services, probation, prosecution, police, and public benefit organisations (PBOs), stakeholders agreed that insufficient funding and limited mobility hinder child protection efforts in the vast West Pokot County.
They collectively urged the government and development partners to scale up budget allocations to support the protection, rehabilitation, and reintegration of children in need of care.
By Anthony Melly
