Current State of Child Online Safety in Kenya part 2

Stakeholder Analysis

The Communications Authority of Kenya has come up with guidelines on the online safety of children. The guidelines provide measures for communication service and product providers concerning the use and access of such by children in Kenya. The authority has also established the National Kenya Computer Incident Response Team Coordination Centre (National KE-CIRT/CC) whose mandate is to ensure cyber security through the detection and management of cyber threats. CAK has a Child Online Protection Campaign labelled ‘BE THE COP’, an initiative  that sought to mainly educate children and the youth on practicing safe internet use and reducing risks and vulnerabilities regarding internet use. The  campaign also aimed to increase awareness among parents and caregivers of children on the online dangers facing children and advise them on ways of reinforcing the appropriate use of the internet among children.’

The National Council of Children’s Services established the Children Act. Among its functions include advising the Cabinet Secretary on matters relating to child protection; ensuring the enforcement of the principles of international law and treaty instruments with regards to children to which Kenya is a state party and the establishment and maintenance of the database of children in Kenya. The National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) works to promote national unity and social cohesion, including addressing hate speech and online harassment that may affect children.

Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) focuses on ICT policy advocacy and engages in discussions related to child online safety, particularly through their ‘cyber hygiene awareness for marginalized populations’. ECPAT, INTERPOL and UNICEF through the Disrupting Harm research project conducted in 2020-2021 following a Safe Online initiative by Global Partnership to End Violence Against Children looked into the different forms of online sexual abuse and exploitation of children and the factors facilitating such abuse. The study provided data on cases of online child sexual abuse and exploitation from the National Center of Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) Cyber Tipline based in the United States on behalf of Kenya law enforcement, comparing it to that which was reported in Kenya, solely offline-based.

Whiz Kids Africa and Parents Unplugged focus on equipping children and their entire ecosystem with digital literacy and online safety skills and also collaborates in different campaigns through partnerships with Meta, TikTok and Google as their Safety Partner in the Sub Saharan Africa Region. Childline Kenya provides a helpline and resources for children facing various issues, including those related to online safety. Equality Now advocates for the rights of women and girls, including addressing issues such as online gender-based violence and exploitation. Africa Institute of Child Studies (AICS) initiates innovative programs and policy reforms to promote child and community well-being in Africa. The Ministry of Education has facilitated safe and secure digital environments in educational institutions and integrated digital literacy and online safety education into the curriculum.

Parents and guardians have a role in understanding the landscape of child online protection and identifying key actors involved in promoting and ensuring the protection of children in the online space. As primary caregivers, they are responsible for staying informed about online risks, educating themselves about digital literacy and online safety, and actively supervising and monitoring their children’s online activities.

Digital Literacy and Education

The Digital Literacy Program (Kenya) is an initiative by the Kenyan government in primary schools through the new CBC Curriculum, which includes training for teachers and students on safe internet use and responsible digital citizenship. Kenya is a member of the Global Partnership to End Violence Against Children, which brings together governments, civil society organizations, and other stakeholders to work collectively towards preventing and addressing violence against children, including online violence. My Digital World (Meta) is a digital literacy program tailored for youth aged 13 – 17 years old reaching learners across the region and shaping the Sub-Saharan digital community for the better. Be Internet Awesome (Google) is an educational program by Google that provides resources and interactive activities to teach children about online safety, privacy, and critical thinking skills. Childnet International offers educational resources and workshops for children, parents, and teachers, focusing on topics such as cyberbullying, online privacy, and positive online behavior. The eSkills4Girls initiative, led by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), aims to provide digital skills training to girls and young women, including information on online safety and digital citizenship.

Gaps and Recommendations for Enhancing Digital Literacy Initiatives

While progress has been made, there are still gaps and areas for improvement in digital literacy initiatives for promoting child online safety. Some recommendations include:

1. The government needs to ensure that digital literacy and online safety are integrated into the curriculum across all levels of education, providing structured and age-appropriate lessons.
2. The government should provide comprehensive training programs for teachers to enhance their digital literacy skills and enable them to effectively educate students about online safety.
3. Parents and communities need to engage, and to be engaged, in digital literacy programs, providing them with resources and workshops to understand the online world, identify risks, and promote safe internet use at home.
4. Collaboration should be fostered among government agencies, NGOs, educational institutions, industry stakeholders, and parents to collectively develop and implement digital literacy initiatives, leveraging their expertise and resources.

In conclusion, these recommendations, if implemented effectively, will ensure that children are better prepared to navigate the digital world safely and responsibly, empowering them with the knowledge and tools necessary to thrive in an increasingly connected society.