Every November, communities across Kenya come together for Children Services Week—an annual initiative that places the rights, safety, and wellbeing of children at the centre of public life. It is a week of learning, action, compassion, and accountability. Most importantly, it is a promise: that children who have suffered abuse, and those in conflict with the law, will be met with justice, dignity, and hope.
This year, our efforts were deeply honoured as we received a certificate of appreciation from the Naivasha Law Courts. This recognition, given during the Annual Judicial Service Month for Children, celebrates our ongoing commitment to advancing child justice, protecting rights, and supporting the work of our judicial partners. The heartfelt words of gratitude from the Principal Magistrate stand as a testament to the collective impact we can have when we join hands for children’s wellbeing.
Our team was also humbled and grateful to be recognised for another milestone—installing the first video link in Kenya dedicated to supporting children engaging with the justice system. Through this innovation, children can now give their testimonies safely and with dignity, reducing the trauma of appearing in court and ensuring their voices are truly heard. You can read more about the story behind this life-changing technology and its impact on children, families, and justice partners in our anniversary reflection here.
This post explores why Children Services Week matters, what happens during the week, and how you can be part of the change. You’ll learn about the involvement of court users, the focus on justice reforms for children, and the powerful theme guiding this year’s efforts: “Enhancing Child Justice Through Preliminary Inquiry and Diversion, Promoting Rehabilitation, Reintegration, and Dignity for Children in Conflict with the Law.”
Why Children Services Week Matters
Children Services Week is more than a calendar event. It is a coordinated national effort to ensure child-friendly justice systems are not just written into law but lived out in communities, courtrooms, and care institutions.
- It keeps children visible in the justice conversation. Children who experience abuse or come into contact with the law often face stigma or silence. This week breaks that silence through public education, open forums, and community outreach.
- It drives practical reform. By bringing together court users—judicial officers, prosecutors, probation officers, police, children officers, advocates, social workers, and community leaders—the week accelerates solutions that reduce delays, minimise harm, and uphold children’s rights.
- It builds trust. When families understand court processes, when children know they will be treated fairly, and when communities see tangible outcomes, confidence in the justice system grows.
The Theme: A Child-Centred Path to Justice
“Enhancing Child Justice Through Preliminary Inquiry and Diversion, Promoting Rehabilitation, Reintegration, and Dignity for Children in Conflict with the Law.”
This theme is both a roadmap and a moral compass. It captures a shift away from punitive responses and towards approaches that protect children from further harm while addressing the root causes of offending or vulnerability.
- Preliminary Inquiry: A child-sensitive process that screens cases early to establish the facts, assess the child’s needs, and decide the most appropriate pathway. It prevents unnecessary detention and speeds up decisions.
- Diversion: Where appropriate, children are redirected away from formal court processes into community-based alternatives—such as counselling, mentorship, education support, mediation, and community service—so they can learn, heal, and stay connected to family and school.
- Rehabilitation and Reintegration: Support systems help children rebuild their lives—psychosocial care, education and skills training, family reunification, and mentorship. The goal is lasting change, not short-term compliance.
- Dignity: Every child deserves to be seen, heard, and respected. Dignity is not an add-on; it’s the foundation of child justice.
The Role of Court Users: Justice as a Team Effort
Children Services Week is driven by Court Users Committees (CUCs) and allied partners who turn principles into practice. Their collaboration ensures that no child falls through the cracks.
- Judges and Magistrates: Lead fair hearings, prioritise children’s cases, and use child-friendly procedures.
- Prosecutors and Defence Counsel: Advocate for the child’s best interests, ensuring proportional and restorative outcomes.
- Police and Children Officers: Use child-sensitive interviewing and referral practices, keeping children safe from secondary victimisation.
- Probation and Social Workers: Assess needs, recommend diversion or alternatives to detention, and monitor reintegration plans.
- Civil Society and Community Leaders: Provide shelter, counselling, legal aid, and family support. They bridge the gap between formal justice and everyday life.
This whole-of-system approach reflects Kenya’s commitment to upholding the Constitution, the Children Act, and international standards on child rights.
What Happens During Children Services Week?
Across counties, the week is marked by activities that inform, protect, and uplift. While each community tailors events to local needs, several core activities run throughout the week.
1) Community Sensitisation and Outreach
- Public barazas and forums explain children’s rights, reporting pathways for abuse, and local support services.
- Radio segments, social media posts, and school events spread clear, accessible messages: abuse is never a child’s fault, help is available, and justice can be child-friendly.
- Faith and community leaders help change harmful norms by promoting protection, care, and accountability.
Outcome: More people know how to report abuse, where to access help, and how to support a child through the justice process.
2) Education on Court Processes
- Open days at courts and children’s offices demystify procedures. Families learn what to expect before, during, and after a hearing.
- Mock hearings and guided tours introduce child-friendly spaces and show how testimony and evidence are handled sensitively.
- Information materials explain preliminary inquiry, diversion, timelines, rights to legal representation, and the role of each actor.
Outcome: Reduced fear and confusion for children and caregivers, and smoother, faster case progression.
3) Food Donations and Support to Children’s Homes
- Food drives supply children’s homes, rescue centres, and safe houses with essentials—grains, milk, fresh produce, and hygiene items.
- Volunteers and court users visit facilities to listen to children, share meals, and deliver care packs.
- Where possible, donations extend to school supplies and books to keep education on track.
Outcome: Immediate relief for vulnerable children and a tangible expression of community solidarity.
Image from when we received food packages at Doyle Farm in 2023
4) Legal Aid and Case Clinics
- On-site legal aid desks answer questions, provide guidance on documentation, and help fast-track urgent matters.
- Social workers and psychologists offer counselling for children and families in distress.
- Case reviews identify bottlenecks, clear backlogs, and prioritise sensitive cases.
Outcome: Timely support that reduces delays and keeps children safe.
5) Training and Capacity Building
- Police, probation officers, and frontline workers receive refreshers on child interviewing, trauma-informed care, and safeguarding.
- Court staff and partners share best practice on preliminary inquiries and diversion decisions.
- Data collection tools are standardised to track outcomes and improve services.
Outcome: Better decisions, less re-traumatisation, and stronger coordination.
The Impact: From Better Processes to Better Lives
The true measure of Children Services Week is not just the number of events held but the changes it brings to children’s lives.
- Faster, fairer decisions: Preliminary inquiries help identify which cases should move forward and which are better suited for diversion. This reduces court delays and keeps children out of detention wherever safe and appropriate.
- Fewer children in conflict with the law reoffend: Diversion and rehabilitation focus on root causes—family stress, school dropout, peer pressure, or substance use—leading to safer communities and brighter futures.
- Stronger community protection: Sensitisation campaigns increase reporting of abuse and strengthen protective networks around children, from neighbours and teachers to health workers and chiefs.
- More dignity and less harm: Child-friendly procedures limit exposure to intimidating environments and ensure children are heard respectfully and safely.
Consider a common scenario: a 15-year-old first-time offender caught in a minor, non-violent offence. Under a punitive model, that child might face detention, stigma, and school disruption. With preliminary inquiry and diversion, the same child can receive counselling, repair harm through restorative actions, return to school, and reconnect with positive role models. The difference is life-changing.
How Communities Can Get Involved
Children Services Week succeeds when everyone plays a part. Here’s how you can help.
For Families and Caregivers
- Attend local forums. Learn your rights and the steps to take if a child needs help.
- Speak up. Report suspected abuse to your local chief, police, children’s office, or trusted service provider.
- Support healing. Encourage counselling and school attendance, and celebrate small milestones in a child’s recovery.
For Community Leaders and Faith Groups
- Host awareness sessions and invite court users to speak.
- Promote positive messages about protection, dignity, and second chances.
- Create volunteer networks to support families in crisis with food, transport, or childcare.
For Schools and Youth Organisations
- Partner on mentorship programs and diversion activities—sports, arts, tutoring, and life skills.
- Train teachers and student leaders to recognise and report abuse safely.
- Keep a child’s education steady during case processes with flexible schedules and extra support.
For Businesses and Professionals
- Sponsor food donations, school supplies, or transport for families attending hearings.
- Offer internships or skills training to help children in reintegration plans build a future.
- Provide pro bono services—legal, counselling, or communications—to strengthen outreach.
For Media and Digital Creators
- Share accurate, sensitive stories that protect children’s identities.
- Amplify resources and helplines.
- Highlight success stories of rehabilitation and reintegration to shift public perception.
Practical Tips for a Child-Friendly Approach
- Use child-sensitive language. Avoid blame. Ask open, gentle questions.
- Prioritise safety. Ensure private spaces for conversations and quick referrals to support services.
- Keep timelines short. Delays can deepen trauma—follow up and advocate for timely action.
- Document carefully and ethically. Protect identities, especially in public communications.
- Celebrate progress. Recognise the efforts of children, families, and frontline workers.
A Shared Mission: Justice With Compassion
Children Services Week reminds us that justice for children is not abstract. It is the warm meal at a rescue centre. The clear explanation of a court process. The decision to use diversion instead of detention. The community rallying around a child who needs a fair chance.
The recognition we received from the Naivasha Law Courts is not just an award—it is a call to keep going and a reminder that when we work together, we create ripples of hope and change. Innovations like the first video link in Kenya’s justice system show how compassion and technology can work hand in hand for the good of every child.
When court users, families, leaders, and neighbours stand together, we do more than comply with the law—we restore dignity, rebuild trust, and open doors to brighter futures.
Call to Action
This November, join your local Children Services Week activities. Attend a forum. Share an educational post. Donate food or essentials to a children’s home. Offer your skills. Invite your neighbours. If you work within the justice system, champion preliminary inquiries and diversion in every suitable case. If you’re a community member, be the person a child can turn to.
Your participation keeps children safe, turns systems into lifelines, and ensures that every child who encounters the law is met with fairness, care, and hope.
Together, we can enhance child justice—one informed conversation, one supportive action, and one child at a time.
If you would like to support the work we do at Rafiki Mwema, we would be grateful if you could donate or share our page to help raise awareness.
