In the recent past, you may have seen stories of missing children on various social media platforms. This may not necessarily mean an increase in the number of missing children, but more visibility of missing children in our society. In the year 2021, about 1186 children were reported to have been missing in Kenya. Missing Child Kenya in partnership with communities, non-state and state actors have managed to reunite 794 of these children with their families, 109 children are in government homes, 25 children are unfortunately deceased and 258 children are still missing.
Missing Child Kenya
Founded by Maryana Munyendo in the year 2016, Missing Child Kenya is a community led portal that works with organizations and individuals in the child protection sector and the public, to help share information on missing children. They use various media platforms to increase search efforts at no cost to the affected families. The organisation works with the community to document lost and found children. They operate the toll free missing child helpline (0800223344), and develop personalised posters of missing children to distribute on social media sites. Furthermore, they also provide advice and counselling to families with missing children.
Why children go missing?
There are a number of reasons why children are reported missing. Some children lose sight of their guardians in crowded spaces, others intentionally run away as a result of difficulties at home and negative peer pressure. While other children are forcefully taken from their homes as is the case in kidnappings. Culture is also a contributing factor to the number of missing children. Some children in border communities in Kenya run away to escape forced child marriages and initiation ceremonies such as circumcision and Female Genital Mutilation.
Other influences that contribute to missing children include socio-economic factors, infertility and vulnerabilities. Often, children who are reported missing come from underprivileged families. Infants are also easy targets for traffickers who sell children to couples desiring children of their own but are unable to conceive. Youngsters with disabilities are similarly at risk as they may not be able to express themselves or provide any identifying information to authorities.
How can I help?
Missing Child Kenya relies on community and donor support to accomplish its work. You can support their efforts through sharing one of their personalized posters on social platforms, contributing to the maintenance of the toll free missing child helpline and purchasing their child safety publications.
About the founder
Maryana Munyendo has always enjoyed working with children. She is a Child Safeguarding Consultant and author of Children’s Safety Books. She was selected for the top 40 under 40 Kenyan Women in 2019 and is a 2020 Eisenhower Fellow. She is also a TV Host of the Missing Children Bulletin. Maryana founded Missing Child Kenya to develop a comprehensive database of missing children in Kenya which previously did not exist.
Contact
Missing Child Kenya can be contacted through the following methods
Website: http://www.missingchild.co.ke
WhatsApp 0704447417
Email: help@missingchild.co.ke
