Children’s body raises concern over child trafficking

The Association of Charitable Children Institutions of Kenya (ACCIK) has challenged the government to address the push and pull factors and social determinants that make children vulnerable to trafficking.

Speaking in Nairobi on Tuesday Association’s Chairperson Rev. Stephen Ndungu sought to clear the air about the issue of child rescuing and adoption, noting that some people with hidden motives have tried to make child rescuing and adoption to be synonymous with trafficking.

“It is sad to note that according to US state department report on human trafficking 2018, the Government of Kenya does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of human trafficking.

“This is wrong and misleading. Rescuing of children in need of care and protection and their placement in Charitable Children Institutions and exiting them through adoption and foster care is provided for in Children Act 2001 among other Kenyan laws as well as international laws.” said Rev Ndungu.

The government has put a three year placement policy of children to Charitable Children Institutions (CCIs) and this allows CCIs to exit children through alternative family care if they cannot be reintegrated back to society.

Child Adoption is supposed to be done by an adoption society registered by National adoption committee and placement of children is only supposed to be done in a registered CCI as stipulated by the law.

“It is ironical to note that the same people that have been linking adoption and rescuing of children to child trafficking have been getting taxpayers’ money to build the so called Ultra-Modern CCIs , “he added ”

ACCIK wants the government to shut down any CCI or adoption society in the country that is unregistered and also prosecute those behind them.