Former Chief Justice David Maraga has called for urgent action to address the growing number of children reported missing, abducted or trafficked in Kenya, warning that the country is facing a serious child protection crisis.
In a statement released on Monday, Maraga said the increasing cases of child disappearances point to weaknesses in the country’s protection systems and law enforcement response.
“These are not statistics. These are our sons and daughters who leave home for school, errands, or play and never return,” Maraga said.
Citing figures from the Child Protection Information Management System (ICPIMS), the former Chief Justice said more than 10,500 child protection cases were reported between January 2025 and March 2026. Among them were 1,952 abduction cases, 1,636 reports of missing children and several incidents linked to child trafficking.
According to Maraga, the numbers have continued to rise over the years, with more than 8,800 children reported missing in 2024 alone an average of about 17 to 18 cases every day.
He also raised concern over the low number of children reunited with their families, noting that in the 2022/2023 reporting period, only a small fraction of nearly 7,000 reported cases ended in successful recovery.
Maraga urged security agencies, including the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), the Ministry of Gender, Culture and Children Services and county governments to handle missing children cases with greater urgency.
He called for stronger investigations, better coordination between agencies and improved accountability in handling such reports.
The former Chief Justice identified Nairobi, Nakuru, Kakamega, Homa Bay and Kiambu as some of the counties most affected by the problem and called for sustained operations targeting child trafficking and abduction networks.
Maraga further warned about growing dangers facing children online, saying increased internet use among minors had exposed many to exploitation, grooming and trafficking schemes.
“Online spaces have become a new frontier of risk for children, and we must strengthen cyber protection frameworks to respond effectively,” he said.
He also appealed for more support towards Child Helpline 116, saying the service needs better staffing, increased public awareness and quicker response systems for families reporting missing children.
At the same time, Maraga highlighted the vulnerability of children living with disabilities, noting that some unresolved disappearance cases this year involved children with autism, epilepsy and hearing or speech impairments.
He called for increased investment in child protection programmes and more support for civil society groups involved in tracing missing children and assisting affected families.
The remarks add to growing public concern over child safety and the effectiveness of systems meant to protect vulnerable children across the country.
