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FATINATO: Keep children away from ongoing political rallies

Election may be an adult process but it directly affects children and has a long-lasting impact on their lives.

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by DAMARIS KIILU

Opinion05 August 2022 - 01:00
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In Summary


  • •Cumulative reports from various children serving organizations indicate up to 30 per cent of people killed in during previous elections, particularly in 2007 were children.
  • •Tens of girls were victims of sexual violence.
A photo of a child in a political rally crowd.

Kenyans are no longer counting months or weeks but days to the much-awaited general election.

Politicians are hitting the road to gather votes while unleashing their last strategies, promises, and utterance attacks and counter-attacks.

This reflects how the political temperatures are on an upward trajectory across the country.

Election may be an adult process but it directly affects children and has a long-lasting impact on their lives.

Almost half the population of Kenya are children.

Kenya’s history has been characterised by huge political instability during the electioneering period where children have often been at the receiving end of the outcomes.

Cumulative reports from various children serving organisations indicate up to 30 per cent of people killed in during previous elections, particularly in 2007 were children, hundreds of them displaced.

Tens of girls were victims of sexual violence.

During the  2017 election,  Kenya National Commission on Human Rights documented 10 electoral-related deaths of children, disruption of learning activities during the school calendar due to political campaigns, and 15 cases of election-related sexual and gender-based violence.

It doesn’t go without, mentioning millions of underage who were traumatised by what they witnessed in person and through the media.

The early years are a make-or-break window of opportunity in  children’s life.

Studies find that children exposed to intolerant speeches during campaign rallies tend to use the same words on their peers.

A report by Michigan State University (2014) affirms that children learn through copying what the adults are doing or what they watch on television.

It’s a common practice in Kenya for parents or caregivers to use television to keep children occupied and many families report leaving the TV on all day long, even as the family moves on to other activities.

Apart from physical risks, the psychological effects of being involved in the ongoing fiery campaign in person or by simply watching television have a great impact on children’s identity.

They learn from the actions and utterances of politicians. It’s a crucial period for parents to ask themselves what they would want their child to learn from that one hour of viewing.

The media should also remain cognizant of protecting the mental and developmental health and well-being of children by airing content that has been looked over pro-children protection lenses.

Politicians should also be discouraged from involving children in any political-related activities.

We should all put efforts into realising the emphasis of Article 53 of the constitution which reiterates the importance of the child’s best interest consideration in every matter concerning the child. 

Youth Coordinator at the Centre for the Study of Adolescence

 

Edited by Kiilu Damaris

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