The government has defended its response to missing children cases, telling senators that stronger coordination between security agencies and child protection institutions is helping improve investigations, rescue efforts and support for affected families, even as Kenya recorded 43,844 missing children cases between 2021 and 2025.
Gender, Culture, the Arts and Heritage Cabinet Secretary Hanna Wendot, accompanied by Principal Secretary for Children Services Carren Ageng'o, appeared before the Senate Labour and Social Welfare Committee to respond to concerns over the rising number of missing children and provide updates on investigations into the deaths of Travis Wanjohi Nderitu and Mary Wanjiru Muhinja in Nyeri County.
Appearing before the committee chaired by West Pokot Senator Julius Murgor, Wendot said the government's response is built on two key pillars: criminal investigations led by law enforcement agencies and child protection services coordinated by the State Department for Children Services.
"The Government response is anchored on two linked tracks," Wendot told the committee.
She explained that every missing child case should first be reported to the nearest police station to trigger investigations and search efforts.
Wendot told the senators, "First, the police and investigation track. Every missing child case must be reported immediately to the nearest police station to obtain an OB number or police post. The National Police Service records the report, leads search and rescue, and investigates the matter."
The Ministry further stated that, "Where the facts suggest abduction, child stealing, trafficking, sexual violence, homicide, online exploitation, cross-county movement or other serious criminal circumstances, the matter is escalated to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations."
Alongside police investigations, Wendot said the Ministry provides child protection services aimed at safeguarding affected children and supporting families.
"Second, the child protection and family support track. The Ministry, through the State Department for Children Services, leads prevention, child protection case management, family tracing support, referrals, psychosocial support, temporary care where required, reintegration, aftercare and follow-up with parents and caregivers."
She further added, "The Ministry does not substitute the investigative role of the National Police Service or DCI. Its responsibility is to ensure that the affected child and family are supported through the child justice and protection systems."
Statistics presented before the committee showed Kenya recorded 43,844 missing children cases between January 2021 and December 2025. Annual reports stood at 8,999 in 2021, rose to 9,419 in 2022, dropped to 8,178 in 2023 and 8,082 in 2024 before increasing again to 9,166 in 2025.
The report showed abandoned children accounted for the largest proportion of the cases.
"'Abandoned' children account for the large majority of the national caseload representing 28,408 cases (64.8% of the total), more than four times the number of 'Abduction' cases (8,152; 18.6%) and 'Missing Child (Lost & Found)' cases (7,284; 16.6%) combined. This indicates that abandonment, rather than abduction, is the primary driver of the missing-children burden nationally."
The Ministry also identified Nairobi, Nakuru, Kakamega, Kiambu and Siaya as the counties that recorded the highest number of reported cases during the five-year period.
It further informed senators that 22,650 cases, about 52 per cent of all reports, received direct child protection intervention, with family reunification remaining the most common outcome.
"Between 2021 and 2025, Kenya's child protection system recorded 43,844 missing-children cases, of which 22,650 (about 52%) received a concrete intervention."
"Of these, care responses dominate: reunification (2,504), joint parental agreements (2,537), maintenance (1,857), and committal to Charitable Children's Institutions (1,687) together account for the bulk of resolved cases, alongside reconciliation (1,062), family support (1,060), and psychosocial support (1,083)."
The CS also briefed senators on investigations into two cases that attracted national attention. According to the Ministry, five-year-old Travis Wanjohi Nderitu, who disappeared in Mathira East, Nyeri County, was later found dead in River Ragati, while one-year-and-seven-month-old Mary Wanjiru Muhinja, who went missing in Tetu Sub-County, was found dead in Gura River. The committee was informed that suspects have been arrested and charged with murder in both cases.
To strengthen the country's response, the Ministry said it is rolling out public awareness campaigns, strengthening the DCI Child Alert system, implementing operational guidelines on missing and found children, establishing a national missing and found children database, creating a joint multi-agency child protection framework and improving collaboration between government institutions and non-state actors.
Wendot called for closer cooperation among all agencies involved in protecting children.
" The disappearance or loss of a child is a matter of critical national importance that demands seamless inter-agency coordination, zero administrative delay, and absolute transparency."
It further noted that, "By maintaining a clear division of labour, where law enforcement commands the investigative front and the State Department for Children Services drives the protective, psychosocial, and family-support front, the Government ensures a compassionate and resilient safety net for the children of Kenya."