Ageng’o urges media to amplify children’s voices, advance their rights
PS says journalists must go beyond reporting abuse to highlight solutions, strengthen accountability, and promote child protection. The post Ageng’o urges media to amplify children’s voices, advance their rights appeared first on KBC Digital .
Kenya's Principal Secretary for Children Services, Carren Ageng’o, is urging journalists and digital content creators to embrace responsible, child-sensitive reporting as part of a broader effort to enhance child protection and promote children's rights. Ageng’o emphasized the media's pivotal role in shaping public perception, shaping societal norms, exposing child protection issues, and ensuring accountability for those responsible for child welfare.
She stressed the importance of ethical, evidence-based, and solutions-focused reporting that respects children's dignity, privacy, and best interests. "Every story matters. Every child counts. Every voice protects," she declared.
During the launch of the 2026 Child Rights and Protection Media Awards (CRAPMA) in Nairobi, Ageng’o challenged the media to expand their focus beyond isolated incidents and leverage their influence to promote prevention and practical solutions to child protection issues. She highlighted the staggering number of child protection cases recorded in the 2025/2026 financial year, with 231,025 cases logged through the Child Protection Information Management System.
This statistic underscores the urgent need for timely intervention, stronger prevention efforts, and sustained public awareness.
Ageng’o made a specific plea to journalists to spotlight community initiatives and individuals actively working to safeguard children's safety and well-being. She also urged the media to grant children a platform to express their views as rights holders. In addition to exposing violations, Ageng’o emphasized that responsible reporting should showcase the actions taken to address these issues.
She stressed that the media must go beyond merely reporting incidents; they should also highlight solutions, community initiatives, and individuals contributing to children's safety and well-being.
The Principal Secretary called on digital content creators to adhere to the same high standards of responsibility when producing and disseminating content involving children. This includes making a concerted effort to protect children's privacy and dignity. The CRAPMA awards, now revived through a partnership between the State Department for Children Services, the Children Rights Advocacy and Legal Aid Foundation (CRALAF), and other collaborators, aim to bring together government, media, civil society, development partners, communities, and children themselves in advancing children's rights and bolstering child protection efforts.
The call for entries and nominations for the awards, which will be presented on World Children's Day, 20 November 2026, opened on 23 October 2026.
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