Nakuru County has recorded the highest cases of online child abuse in the country. This is according to an assessment done by Child Fund Kenya.

In an interview during the Safer internet Day celebrations, the Country director of Child Fund Kenya, Alice Anukur, noted that Nakuru has had a prevalence of online abuse cases.

“The cases might be high in Nakuru since it is an urbanized county and its proximity to Nairobi might scale up these numbers. My wish is the messages shared here as we mark safer internet day trickles down to all children within this region, so that every child in Nakuru is reached and is safe online,” says Ms Anukur.

Principal Secretary for Social Protection and Senior Citizen Affairs Joseph Motari, asked parents to be close to their children and observe the online interaction to keep them safe on the internet.

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“With more children and adolescents spending more time online particularly due to the shift in online learning following the COVID-19 pandemic, comes the increase in cases of online child exploitation and internet addiction. It is therefore imperative to invest in children’s online safety and protection, acknowledging that the use of internet cannot be wished away,” says Motari.

He further added that, parents should remember that the internet does not forget therefore children should be guided on their online interaction.

“According to the Disrupting Harm Study which was undertaken in 2021, six percent (6%) of Kenyan children have already shared images or videos of their bodies with other internet users. Fourteen percent (14%) have gone on to meet in person someone they first encountered online,” he explained.

He called for parents to guide children in exploiting the benefits of the internet while meticulously safeguarding children from threats and risks they may face while online.

Going by the year’s theme “Together for a better internet” Nakuru county commissioner Loyford Kibaara, urged parents to check on what children consume while on the internet, noting that the internet can be used by people to prey on them.

The highlight of the event was when PS Motari launched the handbook Standard operating procedure on online child sexual exploitation and abuse in Kenya.

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Nakuru ranked highest in online child abuse cases

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