By Bonface Mulyungi

Former Chief Justice David Maraga has raised alarm over the rising number of missing, abducted, and trafficked children in Kenya, warning that the situation has reached a critical level requiring urgent national intervention.

In a statement, Maraga cited data from the Child Protection Information Management System (ICPIMS) indicating that between January 2025 and March 2026, more than 10,500 child protection cases were reported. These included 1,952 abductions, 1,636 missing children cases, and additional incidents linked to trafficking.

He noted that the figures represent a sharp increase from 2024, when over 8,800 children were reported missing, translating to an estimated 17 to 18 children disappearing every day.

“These are not statistics. These are our sons and daughters who leave home for school, errands, or play and never return,” Maraga said, describing the trend as a reflection of deep institutional failure and weak accountability systems.

The former Chief Justice further observed that missing child cases have been rising steadily in recent years, citing 6,841 cases in an earlier reporting period, followed by 7,058 in 2023/2024, and over 8,800 in 2024. He also expressed concern over low recovery rates, noting that in 2022/2023, only about 1.2 percent of nearly 7,000 reported cases resulted in reunification with families.

Maraga urged security agencies, including the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), alongside the Ministry of Gender, Culture and Children Services and county governments, to treat missing child cases with the same urgency as other serious crimes. He called for improved coordination, faster investigations, and stronger accountability mechanisms.

He further highlighted specific counties—Nairobi, Nakuru, Kakamega, Homa Bay, and Kiambu—as hotspots requiring targeted and sustained law enforcement operations.

Maraga also warned of the growing threat of online exploitation, noting that more than 70 percent of children aged between 10 and 18 regularly use the internet, exposing them to grooming, trafficking networks, and other forms of abuse.

“Online spaces have become a new frontier of risk for children, and we must strengthen cyber protection frameworks to respond effectively,” he said.

He emphasized the need to strengthen the national Child Helpline 116, calling for better staffing, wider awareness, and improved responsiveness to reports of missing children.

The statement also highlighted the vulnerability of children living with disabilities, with Maraga noting that several unresolved cases in 2025 involved children with autism, epilepsy, and speech or hearing impairments—groups he said require specialized protection measures.

Maraga concluded by urging increased investment in child protection systems and greater support for civil society organizations working on the ground to trace missing children and support affected families.

As the number of disappearances continues to rise, his remarks add to growing public concern over child safety and the effectiveness of Kenya’s child protection and law enforcement systems.