W. Ciira Resources

Ciira, W. (1988, October 2). The Concept of Abused Children now a Reality. The Nation

(Nairobi, Kenya).

OVERVIEW

(Download the Concept of Abused Children overview as a PDF)

Not so long ago, many Kenyans did not believe there were battered children in the country, or even in Africa. People retorted that even the word ‘battered’ was coined in some Western country.

Now, however, people know differently. They realize that battered children are not a foreign concept. ‘These doubting Thomases have now been re-educated.

These poignant words are shared from Professor N.O. Bwibo, professor of pediatrics and principal of the College of Health Sciences at the University of Nairobi

. Newspaper headlines covering a three-month time span bear evidence to his remarks:

A Sunday morning service at Nairobi Baptist Church highlighted the problem as Pastor Oscar Muriu called "for a lasting solution to the problems of incest and child abuse" (according to the Standard

, 17 October 1988). Pointing out some terrible results from incest, rape, and child abuse—poor school work and life traumas—Pastor Muriu said he wondered why women fear to report their spouses. He shared a story of "a 3 1/2 year-old child who was locked in a house and raped repeatedly for two months by her uncle."

Considering the presence of such startling revelations, Professor Bwibo’s two-day workshop on "The Rights of the Kenyan child" was timely. He "is credited with being the first Kenyan to carry out research on child abuse." Attendance at his workshop demonstrates that his concern is shared by many others.

The author of the article adds, "The workshop was organized by the African Network for the Prevention and Protection Against Child Abuse and Neglect (ANPPCAN) with funding by the United Nations Children’s Fund

(UNICEF) Kenya country office. It is part of an on-going...in-depth study of the status of the child in Africa."

The goals of this project are

• To identify areas needing further examination.
• To initiate detailed research.
• To establish dialogue with government and other agencies.
• To publicize and distribute the project report.
•  

• To translate information into local languages.

Concluding the article, Ciira states, "Throughout the workshop, it repeatedly came to light that Kenyan’s changing lifestyles have brought in their wake new psychological, social and emotional problems which especially effect children adversely. According to Professor Bwibo, the times we live in are ‘good times’ in as far as material things go, but ‘bad times’ in that parents may have to lock their children up at home when they go out to work or to attend to other matters, thus exposing them to many dangers."

IMPLICATIONS

1. A modern society can take proper action only when it knows the facts and statistics of a problem. The workshop and project described offer hope for a constructive, societal response.
2. Along with the sociological explanations of the rise in child abuse, there are psychological explanations for the pastor’s question. Women are often afraid to report crimes against their children because they themselves are victims of such childhood abuse—a situation that produces a paralyzing fear.
3. Schools, social welfare and medical institutions, churches, and parents are all called upon to respond to this rising problem.
4.  

1. Youth workers must not retreat from such problems—but they must be approached with extreme sensitivity and skill.