Editorial: Support helpline for children in distress

The measure of a society’s conscience is often defined by the way it treats the most vulnerable. Kenya gets a harsh indictment over how she cares for vulnerable children according to recent statistics. A damning report carried elsewhere in this newspaper highlights challenges facing a call centre designed to help children in distress.

Established in 2007, Childline Kenya was introduced under the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Development to help children in trouble. The toll-free telephone number 116 was introduced so Kenyans could use it to report cases of child neglect, physical or sexual abuse and child trafficking and help trigger necessary help or intervention.