NAIROBI, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- Kenya is among African countries that have embedded child welfare in national laws and policies, but outdated cultural practices that deny young ones basic rights and privileges remain widespread, experts told Xinhua in recent interviews.
According to the experts, the post-colonial Kenya has been a conducive place for children to live thanks to improved access to basic amenities like education, health, shelter and clean water.
John Nduba, director of Health Program at Amref Health Africa, a Kenya-based NGO, said Kenya has not backtracked on its commitment to uplift the living standards of children.
"Kenya has ratified all the conventions to promote children's welfare," Nduba told Xinhua, adding that policies are now in place to ensure that every child could receive quality education, health and nutrition.
However, Nduba said that despite sweeping legislations, Kenyan children are still vulnerable to abuse and marginalization.
"Children's rights cannot be guaranteed in an environment of extreme poverty and archaic cultural practices. We must focus on food security and quality education to ensure children can tap their full potential," he said.
Nduba added that the Universal Children's Day on Nov. 20 presents an opportunity for Kenyan policymakers to revitalize programs that cushion the young ones from emotional and physical abuse.
Kenyan children are still grappling with life threatening ailments despite huge investments in health care. According to Nduba, Kenya could miss the Millennium Development Goal target on halving infant and child deaths due to inability to tame communicable diseases like malaria, HIV/AIDS and pneumonia.
"Kenya is losing a huge number of young lives from ailments that should have been eliminated decades ago. We can reduce child mortality rate through smart interventions," he added.
Meanwhile, policy makers and officials from charity organizations agreed that the East African nation has made impressive progress in promoting child welfare.
Global children's charity Plan International said Kenya dealt a severe blow to pedophiles through enactment of sweeping legislations.
"The Children's Act 2001 and the Sexual Offences Act 2006 protect children from sexual abuse, make justice procedures more child-friendly in cases of sexual abuse, and punish those involved in child trafficking, prostitution and pornography," said Lillian Omariba, spokesperson for the Plan International for Eastern and Southern Africa.
Omariba noted that Kenyan children have enjoyed rights and privileges similar to their counterparts in the developed world but there are grey areas that demand urgent action.
"Our previous studies indicate that progress has been made in elimination of child marriage, labor and trafficking across East and Southern Africa. However, enforcement of national laws to curb those vices has experienced hiccups," she said.
Kenya has ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child and has gone further to enact domestic legislation that criminalizes violation of basic rights including food, shelter, education and health care.
The Kenyan constitution obliges the state, parents and guardians to provide a conducive environment for children to develop physically, mentally and emotionally without disruption.
Omariba stressed that political goodwill, policy reforms and adequate financing are crucial to increase school enrollment and tackle childhood illnesses. Nevertheless, outdated cultural beliefs remain a hindrance to advancement of children's rights in Kenya.
She regretted that a girl child has suffered disproportionately from retrogressive practices like genital mutilation, early marriages and denial of property rights.
"Policy hurdles stand in the way of safeguarding girl child rights in Kenya," said Omariba.
Civil society organizations have lobbied governments to strengthen institutions that manage children's affairs. Omariba said child welfare will only be guaranteed through proactive dialogue among policymakers and non-state actors.
