Nairobi: The International Missing Children's Day 2025 was observed Friday to celebrate those who have been found and reunited with their families and also to strengthen awareness and response efforts. In Kenya, the national commemoration was observed at the St Joseph the Worker Ngong Catholic Church.
According to Kenya News Agency, International Missing Children's Day is a day observed on May 25th yearly to raise awareness of missing children and support the efforts of various people to reunite them with their families. It also serves as a reminder of the ongoing efforts to find missing children, prevent abductions, and provide resources to affected families.
Speaking during the celebrations, Principal Secretary State Department for Children Services, Carren Ageng'o, emphasized that the protection of children requires collaboration between the government and humanitarian actors. She highlighted data from the Child Protection Information Management System, which reveals that in 2024, Kenya recorded 8,824 missing cases and found children. Out of this number, 3,866 children remain unaccounted for, while 4,958 have been found, but their parents or guardians could not be traced.
Despite these challenges, Ageng'o noted progress, citing that 2,336 children were reunited with their families or placed in care options in the same year. "These outcomes show that with timely action and coordinated response, it is possible to bring missing children back and restore hope to families," she stated. Ageng'o also called for increased funding to support children's welfare and address missing children cases and other welfare issues.
Millie Odhiambo, Member of Parliament for Suba North, cautioned children against interacting with strangers and advised them to exercise caution online. She urged parents to protect their children by monitoring their online activities and the people they engage with. Odhiambo pledged to advocate for increased budget allocations for children's welfare, youth, and women.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) representative for Kenya, Jin Kim, stressed that child protection must begin from where children live, learn, and play. "Every 2 minutes, a child goes missing globally. Each missing child is more than a statistic. They have a name, a story, and a family's heartache," said Kim. He expressed hope that governments will amplify children's voices and fully integrate every child into the national protection system. "We will be honoured to stand alongside government agencies, NGOs, practitioners, and everyone else to unite in our shared mission to ensure that no child is left behind, unseen, or unprotected in Kenya," concluded Kim.
Laura Anayah, the governor of the Kenya Children Assembly for Kajiado, highlighted that factors such as excessive strictness from parents, leniency, mistreatment from foster parents, and neglect can lead children to run away. "Every missing child represents a family torn apart, a future left uncertain, and a community searching for answers," said Anayah. She urged parents, caregivers, and the government to ensure children receive quality education, strengthen social protection programs, and increase public awareness on treating children with love and providing emotional support.
The government has implemented several measures to reunite children with their families, including developing and disseminating national guidelines, strengthening referral and rapid response mechanisms, and assigning children's officers in every sub-county for timely reporting and intervention. In case a child goes missing, individuals are encouraged to report immediately to the nearest children's welfare office, the police, the area chief, or the DCC. Additionally, a toll-free children's welfare number, 116, is available for assistance.
The event was attended by representatives of UNHCR in Kenya, the Member of Parliament for Suba North, the DCC of Kajiado North, the governor of the Kenya Children's Assembly of Kajiado, the regional coordinator of children's services for Rift Valley, children's officers, learners from across Kenya, parents, and teachers.