The Young Nation
March 25, 2001

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Children say; this is what we want

By Njiru Rukenya

Sharon Naliaka airs her views during the conferences

"Child labourers are in danger of being molested by their employers without redress," shouted Sharon Naliaka, 11, from COMIMA Covenant Centre situated in the sprawling Mathare slums in Nairobi. Naliaka was one of more than 500 children who met at a forum for "Children's Voices" last Saturday at the Kenyatta International Conference centre. They came up with several recommendations to be presented to the Attorney General.

Topics like AIDS are now discussed freely among children who are now aware of the consequences of the scourge. The most striking thing about this year's conference was the fact that it was organised by a committee of nine children from different localities within Nairobi and Kiambu who met every Saturday for two months.

Their ages ranged between eight and 18 and they were guided by their president, fifteen-year-old Yvonne Maingey. They were drawn from children's centres, public and private schools. Nevertheless, conspicuously missing were representatives from up-country.

Several officials from policy making departments attended the morning session with the Attorney General sending a representative. Government officials had a rough time as they were unable to satisfactorily answer questions directed to them by the children. "Why is primary school education not free anymore?Ó posed Denver Mariga, a Form Two student and a former street boy and now in Form Two.

An admission that the government did not have enough funds was not welcomed by children.

"We understand things were better at independence when education was almost free but now many children drop out from school because their parents cannot afford the fees." One boy from a rehabilitation centre could not understand why things are not getting better.

Some of the questions asked included: Why doesn't the government provide free medical support to children over the age of five. How can the government help talented street children get off the streets? Why do police officers harass street children without proof of guilt or warrant of arrest?

What is the government doing to ensure that children know their rights and that those rights are followed to the letter? The children spoke in one voice leaving the adults wondering just how much they knew.

Children from Jacaranda Special School entertained the participants with song and recitals

The Director of Children's affairs, Mr Sammy Ole Kwalla, insisted that all children are equal and that the government was doing all it could to cater for the needs of children in the entire country.

In their discussion groups, the children deliberated on issues affecting them and the society such as Aids and relationships, child labour, gender and education, children and disability, among others.

On children and disability, Ephantus Mugo from Dagoretti Special school feels there is no difference between the disabled and able children. "Apart from being on a wheelchair, I am just as capable as any other child," said the 14-year-old boy. This was restated by children from Jacaranda Special who moved guests and other children almost to tears with their songs and recitals. "...give me love, protection and support. I do not ask for sympathy but for help," they intoned.

Articulate and fluent Donald Apiyo, 11, of Muslim Girls school wondered why some parents hide their handicapped children as if the children did not have any rights. "I came here to speak for my cousin who has to remain in the house for lack of school fees and because his parents cannot cope with his disability. My cousin, who is my agemate, lives in the village, a lonely boy. I visit him during the holidays and play with him," explained Apiyo.

Recommendations arrived at were that: A children's Ministry be established, and a children's bill separate from a woman's bill be drafted. The government should establish more rehabilitation centres; Police should introduce a separate occurrence book for children only and have officers specifically trained to handle children's cases at all police stations.

In education, they recommended that family life education be included in the curriculum and that girls be allowed to re-join school if they got pregnant while still in school. The director of Childlife Trust, Mr Anoop Shah, said that these recommendations would also be forwarded to Unicef at the UN headquarters in New York.

The conference which was facilitated by Childlife Trust, was organised by a committee of nine children from different localities within Nairobi and Kiambu who met every Saturday for two months. "We didn't want to interfere with what children had; our role was only to facilitate," commented Leah Ambwaya, an administrator with the trust.