A total of 1,251 children were reported missing across Kenya from January 2025 to June 2026, with the Rift Valley region recording the highest number of cases, according to a statement presented in Parliament by the Interior Ministry.
During the same period, 917 children were successfully traced and reunited with their families.
Regional Breakdown of Missing Children
- Rift Valley: 439 missing, 320 traced
- Eastern: 243 missing, 220 traced
- Central: 230 missing, 160 traced
- Western: 103 missing, 69 traced
- Coast: 83 missing, 57 traced
- Nairobi: 54 missing, 12 traced
- Northeastern: 53 missing, 37 traced
- Nyanza: 47 missing, 42 traced
The data was presented in response to a parliamentary query by Kisii Woman Representative Dorice Donya, who expressed concern over the increasing number of missing children nationwide.
Interior Ministry, through Security Committee Chair Gabriel Tongoyo, highlighted government efforts to curb the trend. These include strengthening child protection and gender desks in police stations to create a child-friendly reporting environment and improving investigations.
Enhanced surveillance along trafficking routes, border points, and high-risk regions is also underway. The National Police Service collaborates with stakeholders to safeguard children and has intensified community policing initiatives to raise awareness and encourage timely reporting of child abuse and exploitation.
Despite these measures, some lawmakers remained dissatisfied. Donya criticized the response for lacking clear strategies on ensuring children's safety. Mombasa Woman Representative Zamzam Mohammed echoed this, pointing out the inadequacy of relying on village elders without proper mechanisms to track missing children, especially those trafficked across borders.
Funyula MP Wilberforce Oundo urged the government to enhance public education on child safety and reminded parents of their responsibility to protect their children.
