Welfare fights back after exposé

Child Welfare Society of Kenya chair Shakila Abdalla during an interview. [File, Standard]

Child Welfare Society of Kenya (CWSK) Chairperson Shakila Abdalla has distanced herself from the child neglect allegations that have rocked the State agency.

Ms Abdalla (pictured), who was appointed four months ago, yesterday said that she had been kept in the dark about operations of the agency.

The Sunday Standard ran a shocking exposé on child abuse, mistreatment, poor living conditions and exploitation at the State corporation tasked with caring and protecting the welfare of adopted children.

According to the investigative piece, the State agency situated along Lang’ata Road has been using vulnerable children for profit, subjecting them to more misery and minting millions in the process.

No office

“To speak the truth, since the President appointed me as the chairperson of CWSK I have been hanging around corridors and in the boardroom without any briefing from the officials. I only learnt about the sorry state of these vulnerable children on television,” she said.

“I don’t even have an office to operate from,” she said.

She, however, apologised over the state of affairs at the agency.

“This matter must be investigated by the Director of Public Prosecution. I apologise to the children of Kenya for what they went through. I can’t say it’s true or false but the pictures are sad and paint the real agony these children faced in the hands of their caretakers,” she said.  

The chairperson explained that no board has been constituted by the ministry since the expiry of the previous one three years ago.