Religious leaders from Teso South and Busia sub-counties have been sensitized on children’s rights in order to help in advocating and championing for protection of children’s rights in the community.
The sensitization which was done under “Linda Mtoto Project,” an initiative of Free Pentecostal Fellowship in Kenya brought together 45 religious leaders drawn from the two sub counties.
Speaking during the sensitization at Burumba in Busia Sub-County, Everline Achieng from Free Pentecostal fellowship in Kenya said the religious leaders are in a position to inform a large number of people due to their interaction.
“Religious leaders have to understand about the children’s laws and ensure they follow in their service and understanding where and how to handle children’s cases identified in the church or community. This creates a need for them to understand the provisions of the Children Act,” said Achieng.
She stated that there is a need for all stakeholders to understand the changes that have happened in the Children Act so that the children’s rights are protected.
“We have some clauses that were added from the 2001 Children’s Act. We have been looking at how to handle children who are transgender and those who are disabled. We have also been looking at what happens when a child of 12 years and bellow commits an offence against the law,” she said
John Omuinda from Revelation Ministries Busia acknowledged that there has been a big gap in the relationship between the church, parents and children that needs to be addressed.
“The training has helped us to understand that there is a gap in our friendship with our children and all of us don’t understand the laws governing each other. The problem has affected the country and even places of worship. The training of religious leaders is going to help us in spearheading the change in the country and in our children,” he said.
Omuinda added that the training has placed them in a good position to defend children’s rights. He said that they are going to work closely with the local administration to ensure the children’s rights are protected.
Mustapha Juma from Aladoi Community Mosque said there are many cases of abuse to all genders in the community that the training is going to help in addressing.
“Many children are abused in the community. Through the training we have realized the importance of parents taking their responsibilities fully so that we can protect children’s rights and that’s what we are going to spread in our mosques. Let’s work with the government and all stakeholders so that through combined effort, the safety of our children remains on top,” Juma emphasized.
On her part Pastor Anastancia from Pentecostal Harvest Cathedral Church Mundika said as religious leaders, they have learned that there is a role they have to play in the life of children.
“We have left our children to be handled by Sunday school teachers. The sensitization has given us another view that we have to bring them closer and teach, direct and help them as we do to their parents. We need to create a good relationship with them so that they can freely share their issues with us without fear,” she said
The religious leaders vowed to ensure they fight Kangaroo courts and ensure that the due processes have been undertaken in defilement cases.
They challenged other spiritual leaders to ensure they play a front role in advocating for children rights, calling on the members of the public to be the ambassador of advocating for children rights.
By Salome Alwanda and Rodgers Omondi
