Understand the children’s rights in Kenya, their importance, and responsibilities: While Chapter 5 of the constitution, the Bill of Rights, lays out individual rights, it does not expressly state the rights of children. Children have rights that are distinct from other people’s rights. The Children’s Act, Cap 586, provides a list of children’s rights and how they shall be upheld. The Act was enacted to bring together different laws that affect children. It was also passed to give effect to the provisions of the African Charter and the CRC.

Below is a list of the basic children rights in Kenya:

Right to Life

The government and the family is charged with ensuring the survival and proper development of every child.

Right to Parental Care

Children have the right to reside and be brought up by their parents.  They deserve better parental care for their growth.

Right to Education

Every child is entitled to education. The provision of this elementary education is the responsibility of both the parents of the child and the government.

Religious education

Every child is entitled to religious education. Parents are charged with instructing their children in religious education.

Right to Healthcare

Every child is entitled to medical care. The government and the child’s parents are responsible for providing this medical care.

Child Labor Protection Right

Every child is protected from being economically exploited. A child should not engage in any work that harms their physical, spiritual, or mental health. Additionally, children should not be recruited to serve in the army.

Disabled Children Rights

Children with disability should be treated with dignity and afforded special care. Furthermore, there are entitled to all the rights of normal children

Child Abuse Protection Rights

Every child is protected from psychological, physical, or sexual abuse including trafficking, sale, or abduction. Children are also protected from cultural rites such as early marriage and female circumcision. These practices are deemed to be detrimental to a child’s dignity, social welfare, health, and psychological and physical development.

Drugs Protection Rights

Children are protected from accessing drugs or intoxicating substances. Every child is protected from using drugs or being used to produce, distribute, or traffic drugs. You are liable

Right to privacy

Like adults, a child is entitled to their own privacy. However, a child’s privacy should be closely monitored and supervised by their parents.