AI drives rise in online child abuse as justice system scrambles to respond

From right: Ulrich Jaenen, GIZ Police Team Leader; Lilian Orieko, Lawyers Without Borders Programme Manager; Sylvia Yiantet, National Council for Administration of Justice; and Monica Kay Akinyi, Busara Sasa, at a Lawyers Without Borders event at Acts of Hope Children's Home, Dagoretti, Nairobi, May 27, 2025. [Jonah Onyango, Standard] Authorities are sounding the alarm over a rise in online child exploitation, warning that artificial intelligence is fuelling dangerous new forms of abuse. The Anti-Human Trafficking and Child Protection Unit (AHTCPU), working with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), handled more than 3,160 cases of online child sexual exploitation and abuse in 2018 alone. Between 2017 and 2019, law enforcement received over 13,000 annual cybercrime tips from the National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children, a United States-based body that collaborates with INTERPOL. Yet many children remain vulnerable as they have not been taught how to stay safe online. A SafeOnline report titled Disrupting Harm in Children found that nearly two-thirds of Kenyan children who use the internet have never received any online safety education. It also found 60 per cent had shared explicit images of themselves, often unaware they were breaking the law. "We are reviewing the entire investigative process to ensure all aspects necessary for evidence are adequately covered in relation to these cases," said Linda Ndambiri, who heads the ODPP Children Division. She said prosecution-guided investigations have helped improve how Tech-SGBV cases are handled. The ODPP has also introduced child-friendly interview rooms and virtual court sessions to reduce trauma for victims. "We must sensitise communities, including children and parents, to recognise and report these cases," Ndambiri added. She said full implementation of the Victim Protection Trust Fund is critical to ensure child victims receive both compensation and psychological support. "Without financial and psychosocial support, children fall through the cracks of the justice system," observed Ndambiri. The National Council on the Administration of Justice (NCAJ) is leading efforts to coordinate the response across agencies in the justice system. "From police to prosecutors, to courts and children's services, each actor plays a vital role," said Sylvia Yiantet, who leads child protection efforts within NCAJ. With support from GIZ and Lawyers Without Borders, NCAJ has developed a national training manual on online child sexual exploitation and abuse, now being used by grassroots-level Court Users Committees. The council is also compiling a case digest to support consistent handling of online child abuse cases across the country. Lawrence Okoth from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations Cybercrime Unit said children often outpace their parents in digital skills, allowing risky online behaviour to go unnoticed. "We are seeing increasing cases of cybersex, online grooming and AI-generated child sexual abuse content," explained Okoth. He said the AHTCPU is partnering with international agencies such as INTERPOL and the National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children to track abusers and identify victims. "Standardising prosecution practices is key," noted Okoth, insisting on the need for proper handling of digital evidence. The Ministry of Labour and Social Protection has published a guidebook outlining steps to shield school-going children from online bullying and harassment. The guide offers practical tips for learners, teachers and caregivers to prevent and respond to online abuse. The amended Children Act (2022) now explicitly addresses online abuse, and the National Plan of Action (2022-2026) provides a framework for tackling these offences. However, experts warn that legislation is not enough. "If children aren't taught what grooming or sextortion is, they can't protect themselves from it," said Ndambiri. She said online safety must be built into school curricula so that children learn to navigate the digital world safely from an early age.

AI drives rise in online child abuse as justice system scrambles to respond

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AI drives rise in online child abuse as justice system scrambles to respond

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