National Police Service spokesperson Michael Nyaga Muchiri is on the receiving end of netizens' anger after he dismissed reports of a surge in missing children cases in the country.
Nyaga instead linked the growing concern to recycled content, manipulated clips, AI-generated material and misleading posts on social media.
Speaking during a television interview, he said the country was not experiencing a sharp increase in child disappearances, arguing instead that heightened public awareness and faster information sharing online were driving the perception of a crisis.
“We really don’t have a surge. It’s only that we have a public that is much more conscious, more aware and the spread of information is much faster. Something else we have noticed during our analysis is the intrusion of AI and fakes. Some of the clips we have seen in recent times contribute to the perception that there is a surge or an emergency. That is not the case. The best approach is calmness and reliance on facts,” he said.
His remarks triggered immediate backlash online, with critics accusing authorities of downplaying a growing child protection crisis and the suffering of affected families.
Social media users questioned the government’s stance at the height of the disappearances reported across the country.
@justinekimani posted, “So how many kids need to miss or get killed for the government to see it as an emergency or crisis?”
Another user, @mwanaissah, wrote, “Are some officers involved in this child theft ring because what are you even saying?” while @shades.of.nyx responded, “Tell that to the grieving parents.”
@rayqagaih added, “Wow, just wooow I think now the qualifications to be a police should be an A... because this noway.”
The uproar comes as Kenya marks International Day for Missing Children, amid growing concern over rising child protection cases across the country.
Fresh data from the Directorate of Children Services through the Child Protection Information Management System shows 10,581 child protection cases were recorded between January 2025 and March 2026.
These include 1,636 missing children cases, 1,952 abductions, 6,820 abandonment cases and 173 trafficking incidents.
Authorities say about 78 per cent of reported cases have been resolved through rescue and family reunification efforts.
However, 2,328 children remain missing, a figure that continues to fuel public anxiety.
The Ministry of Gender, Culture and Children Services has acknowledged mounting pressure over the issue, citing trafficking syndicates, online exploitation and poverty as key drivers in some cases.
Cabinet Secretary Hannah Cheptumo said, “Behind each statistic lies a story of heartbreak and loss, a child torn from the embrace of loved ones, their future uncertain and their dreams shattered.”
“These are not isolated cases. They reflect a serious national challenge that calls for collective responsibility from parents, communities and institutions.”