Bishop Rose Okeno of the ACK Diocese of Butere has called upon the community to establish safe environment for vulnerable individuals and children who have experienced abuse. She emphasized the urgent need to rebuild a society where children are protected from harm, feel cherished, and are empowered to realize their potential.
During the launch of the Children’s Service Month at Buchenya Comprehensive School in Butere Sub-county on Friday afternoon, Bishop Okeno urged community members to embrace the tradition of shared parenting to ensure that all children are raised to become responsible citizens. She also appealed to parents to be attentive and nurturing, fostering a generation that is God-fearing.
Bishop Okeno expressed concern over instances where parental neglect has led children to engage in undesirable behaviors. Her concerns were echoed by Butere Senior Principal Magistrate Edwin Wasike, who advised parents against child labor and urged them to protect children from high-risk jobs.
The event was attended by various children’s rights activists, including Rose Muhanda, the Public Health Chief Officer at Kakamega County Government, who advocated for stringent penalties for offenders of child abuse. The theme of the event was “Securing Justice for Every Child: Enhancing Multi-Agency Collaboration and Increasing Budgetary Allocation to Combat Child Abuse.”