Government to Expand Child Helpline 116 Nationwide to Strengthen Protection of Vulnerable Children

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Nairobi, Kenya – The Government has announced a nationwide expansion of the Child Helpline 116 in a renewed effort to strengthen child protection systems and improve access to emergency support services for children, families, and communities across the country.

The initiative, themed “Break the Silence,” aims to increase public awareness of the toll-free helpline, enhance early reporting of abuse and neglect, and ensure faster response mechanisms for children facing violence, exploitation, and other forms of harm.

Speaking during a briefing on the rollout, the Principal Secretary for the CPA Carren Agengo emphasized the need for stronger collaboration among all child welfare stakeholders to make the programme effective at the grassroots level.

She noted that the Government is working closely with children’s officers, the National Police Service, county governments, faith-based institutions, and development partners to ensure that child protection services are fully accessible and responsive.

“The Ministry must continue working closely with all stakeholders to strengthen child protection systems. We must also promote awareness of Child Helpline 116 and encourage families to be more open and responsive to children’s needs,” she said.

The PS further stressed that the Government’s priority is to ensure that every child in Kenya can access timely help whenever they are in danger or distress, adding that public awareness remains central to the success of the programme.

“Our main objective is to ensure the public knows where to seek help. We must protect every child and ensure no case of abuse goes unreported,” she added.

The expansion will see the State Department for Children Services scale up awareness campaigns and strengthen coordination structures at county level to improve response times and service delivery.

Once fully rolled out, the expanded Child Helpline 116 is expected to significantly enhance reporting channels, improve coordination among child protection agencies, and ensure vulnerable children receive faster and more effective support.

The Government has urged parents, teachers, religious leaders, and community members to actively use the helpline and support efforts to create a safer environment for children across the country.

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