Thousands of people attended the first rally in a campaign against child abuse and violence in the Kenyan city of Naivasha last weekend. 

The campaign launched by Vice President Moody Awori last month aims to creating awareness on the rights of children.  It is organized by the children’s department and UNICEF.  Naivasha was chosen as the first stop of the campaign due to its high number of reported cases of child abuse and forced marraiges.  The campaign know as the Tulinde Watoto Project, will involve raising millions for programs to protect and help at least 500,00 children and women affected by violence.  It will also mobilize the public to take action to stop violence through the STOP Violence Bus, which will move from district to district, urging communities to work with the government and NGO to stop violence.

The majority of rapes and  defilements are said to be committed by family member and close relatives Nakura children’s magistrate Teresiah Matheka said sexual offences are among the most difficulty cases to prove.  But he said the goverment has put in place a legal framework to protect children against abuse.  The new law provides for the DNA testing that makes it easier to provide evidence  in such cases.