Alarm in Naivasha over rising number of children in crime

A few months ago, a 16-year-old boy and his 12-year-old counterpart were arrested and booked at Naivasha police station for their involvement in house break-ins at a nearby informal settlement.

The two minors were allegedly recruited by a 25-year-old hardened criminal whose aim was to conceal his crimes by using the children as pawns.

Before their arrest, the minors were also active in selling bhang (cannabis) in the area.

In another case, a group of minors was apprehended while attempting to sneak into a supermarket with a hidden toy pistol.

These incidents are just a few examples of a growing trend of juvenile crime in Naivasha in Nakuru County which has sparked concern among parents, law enforcement, the Judiciary and other community stakeholders.

From June 2023 to July 2024 alone, the Naivasha courts recorded 220 cases involving minors with 170 already adjudicated.

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This represents a sharp rise from the 143 cases registered during the same period in the previous year. In the months between July and November 2024, 112 new juvenile crime cases were filed, of which 59 have already been completed.

As of November alone, 88 criminal cases and 24 civil matters had been recorded.

Alarm raised

Principal Magistrate Juliana Ndeng'eri who heads Naivasha's children’s court has raised alarm over the surge in juvenile crime cases.

"From last year to this year, we have noted a significant rise in criminal matters involving children. This is truly alarming," she said during the Judiciary Children’s Month celebrations in November.

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To address the issue, the Judiciary has designated November as a special month to expedite the hearing of cases involving minors, aiming to deliver swift justice.

"This month we have prioritised and fast-tracked the hearing of these matters to ensure timely justice," said Ms Ndeng'eri.

However, she also stressed the need for parents to protect their children, particularly in light of the tough economic conditions that have pushed some children into manual labor to support their families, making them vulnerable to exploitation.

Residence influence

The Judiciary has identified informal settlement areas in Naivasha town as the leading cases of juvenile crimes and child abuse, especially defilement, abandonment, assault, and neglect.

According to the magistrate, Kihoto, Karagita, and KCC informal settlements have seen significant incidents where most of the crimes happen.

 It is in the slum areas also where youths seek sexual favours from minors.

"Parents must be at the forefront of protecting their children, especially during school holidays," Magistrate Ndeng'eri added.

She called for the establishment of additional courts in Gilgil and Mai Mahiu as well as more judicial officers to manage the growing number of juvenile cases in the region.

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“The Judiciary Children Month for November aims to raise awareness about children-related issues and promote justice in various courts across the country,” she said Ndeng'eri.

“People must also report issues affecting children to the authorities to ensure that perpetrators face the full force of the law,” she further stated.

Nakuru Human Rights Network Director David Kuria is also concerned by the worrying trend.

"We are very concerned about the rise in juvenile crime cases," he said. "We have been working with government agencies and other stakeholders to address the problem and reduce juvenile offenses. Parents must monitor their children, know where they are, and what they are doing. It's their responsibility to protect their children from becoming involved in crime," he told the Nation.

Broken families

Mr Kuria also attributed the rise in juvenile crime to poverty and broken families. He called for more child protection units to be established in Naivasha and Gilgil to help address these challenges.

"It is our collective responsibility to protect children from predators," Mr Kuria added.

Non-governmental organisations are also stepping up efforts to combat the growing juvenile crime problem.

Sylvester Wafula, a representative from KNote, an NGO working in Naivasha and Gilgil, noted that they have established children’s rights clubs in local schools to provide children with a platform to discuss issues affecting them.

"Youth groups, community dialogue groups, and ‘nyumba kumi’ initiatives have been instrumental in raising awareness about child abuse," Mr Wafula said. 

However, he acknowledged that reporting abuse remains a challenge, often hindered by uncooperative parents and a lack of proper reporting channels.

Chairman of the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) in Naivasha Kennedy Masese revealed that cases involving minors are given priority in local courts.

"Children's cases are handled on a first-come, first-served basis to ensure justice is delivered quickly," Mr Masese said. 

LSK also provides free legal services to children from low-income backgrounds and has been advocating for the establishment of more courts, including mobile courts in Gilgil and Mai Mahiu, to serve the growing number of juvenile cases.

According to Naivasha police, the majority of juvenile crimes occur in informal settlement areas such as Karagita, Mirera, and Kihoto.

"Hardly a day goes by without a new incident involving a minor being brought to our attention," a senior officer disclosed.

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