• The Ministry of Labour and Social Protection reports that between June 2023 and May 2024, over 7,000 children have gone missing, with only 1,383 having been reunited with their families.

The question of where missing children end up may not keep everyone awake at night, but to parents and families of missing children, it’s a never-ending nightmare.

May 25 is set aside as international day for missing children (IMCD) and is dedicated to raising awareness, highlighting recovery efforts and providing support to families of children who have gone missing.

It is estimated globally, that approximately 8 million children go missing every year. In Kenya, around 6,000 children go missing annually, translating to 18 children per day. Of those, only over a thousand get reunited with their families.

The Ministry of Labour and Social Protection reports that between June 2023 and May 2024, over 7,000 children have gone missing, with only 1,383 having been reunited with their families.

“Behind each statistic lies a story of heartbreak and loss. Their future uncertain and their dreams shattered.” Labour Cabinet Secretary, Florence Bore said while Marking the event on Friday, May 24, 2024.

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In light of IMCD, it is pertinent that we ask ourselves the difficult questions: What contributes to such a high number of child disappearances? What efforts are put in place once a child goes missing? Why is it that in countries such as America, 97.8% of children who go missing, get recovered? What are we not doing that other countries are doing?

Between 2015 and 2021, over 15 children fell victim to two Child Serial Killers, Evans Juma Wanjala and Mastern Wanjala, events that sparked outrage across the country, forcing parents to hold their children a little tighter. Have we been so quick to forget?

Why have we been so slow to implement technologies such as Amber alert systems that widely disseminate warning messages to help find abducted children? Why are we lacking in terms of Emergency response aid? Why are we not training local authorities and engaging local community members in ground searches? Why are we not prioritizing our future generation?

Unless we answer all these questions, the fate of missing children will remain hazy, bleak and imperilled.