Child protection advocates are sounding the alarm following the release of a new report that uncovers a troubling rise in cases of Online Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (OCSEA) involving children with intellectual disabilities in Kenya. The findings have prompted urgent calls for legal and educational reforms to better protect some of the country’s most vulnerable children.
The report dubbed “Understanding Online Sexual Exploitation and Abuse of Children with Intellectual Disabilities” highlights growing online threats and the lack of inclusive regulations to protect vulnerable children. The report was commissioned by ZanaAfrica and incorporates the perspectives of other key agencies that work at safeguarding the rights and safety of children through education and empowerment.
“The country has experienced an upsurge of such violations and one would wonder why the rise at this point in time. It’s even worrying given that the violators according to the studies cut across all social classes,” said Ms Josephine Kisilu, the Dean of Studies at the Kenya Institute of Special Education, while delivering her keynote address.
While access to the internet has increased, children with intellectual disabilities remain unprotected, largely due to systemic gaps in education, law, and community awareness, according to the research findings of the report.
“It is my hope that the research has produced insights which will be useful to the government agencies and other stakeholders to curb the menace or upsurge,” added Ms Kisilu.
Speaking at the launch of the report, Ms Megan White Mukuria, Founder of ZanaAfrica, brought a personal and powerful message to the audience, reflecting on her 24 years in Kenya and her journey as a mother, wife, and long-time child advocate.
She emphasized that safeguarding children, especially girls and children with intellectual disabilities, has been at the heart of her life’s mission, from her early days working with street-involved girls to founding ZanaAfrica.
“I made a decision: my life’s work would be about unlocking the greatest opportunities for the greatest number of children, especially girls. And that starts with safeguarding,” she said.
Ms Mukuria shared concrete examples of ZanaAfrica’s impact, including reaching over 100,000 girls each month with affordable sanitary products, Nia pads, linked to free health and safety resources. She highlighted the Nia HealthLink, a hotline and chatbot that has supported over 10,000 users, and discussed the organization’s partnership with the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development to integrate life skills education into the national curriculum, a move Ms Mukuria said could reach up to 13 million learners. She also described Jasiri Mugumo, ZanaAfrica’s trauma-informed school, as part of a broader commitment to building child-centered, Afrocentric education rooted in healing and empowerment.
As the report points to growing online threats faced by children, Ms Mukuria called on all stakeholders, from parents to policymakers, to act urgently and collaboratively. She proposed expanding current tools like Nia HealthLink into a national digital safeguarding platform and integrating online safety into existing education frameworks.
“Some 18 million children in Kenya are already exposed to online risks,” she warned. “Let’s prepare now – before scale becomes a crisis.”
Her message was clear: a coordinated, data-driven, and inclusive approach is essential if Kenya is to lead in protecting its children in an increasingly digital world.
“When adolescents struggle during this pivotal phase of their life, the consequences are dire,” she warned, citing risks like teenage pregnancy, school dropouts, gender-based violence, and long-term poverty. She explained that ZanaAfrica’s work includes scaling life skills education through its Nia Learning programs, which have already reached over half a million young people.
Ms Jane noted that the collaboration of ZanaAfrica with the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) is a potential pathway for embedding online safety into formal education. “We see an opportunity where the learnings from this report could in future inform how we sensitize children and youth on online safety through the approved school curriculum,” she said.
ZanaAfrica’s Nia HealthLink platform, offering real-time, toll-free digital support, was highlighted as a vital tool for gathering data on abuse and linking youth to services, while also acting as a model for cross-agency coordination in response to online threats.
Acknowledging recent legal progress in Kenya such as the Children Act of 2022, The Standard Operating Procedures on Online Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse in Kenya by the Directorate of Children Services and the newly adopted Industry guidelines on Child Online Protection and Safety by the Communications Authority of Kenya, 2025, Ms Beatrice stressed that “Just like technology, the landscape for online abuse is constantly evolving, we have to keep seeking answers to every new challenge that rises,” she said.”
She concluded by reaffirming ZanaAfrica’s commitment to working with both State and Non-State actors to ensure that children in Kenya can navigate the digital world safely and realize their full potential.
“This report is important in informing policy and practice by shedding light on the specific risks faced by these vulnerable children. It can help guide policy makers, educators and child protection agencies in developing targeted interventions,” she added.
According to the study by ZanaAfrica, children with intellectual disabilities are particularly at risk due to communication barriers, low digital literacy, and a trusting nature. In a similar study conducted by the UN in 2021, out of the 67% children aged 12–17 in Kenya who use the internet, about 7%seven per cent of them had been offered money for sexual images, and another 3% three per cent had been blackmailed to engage in sexual activity online.
According to the study by ZanaAfrica, children with intellectual disabilities are particularly at risk due to communication barriers, low digital literacy, and a trusting nature. The report reveals that popular platforms used by the children studied may pose high risks due to exposure to grooming, explicit content, and online scams.
Speaking virtually at the launch of the report, Mr Nicholas Wells, Programs and Policies Specialist at the Tech Coalition, highlighted the critical role of global tech companies in protecting children in the digital age. Representing a coalition of 52 leading tech firms, Mr Wells emphasized the power of industry collaboration in addressing online threats to children.
“The Tech Coalition brings together the collective expertise of its members to strengthen each company’s ability to combat online child exploitation,” he said.
Mr Wells spotlighted the Safe Online Research Fund as one of the coalition’s cornerstone efforts. The fund, now in its fourth year, supports innovative research that delves into the dynamics of Online Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (OCSEA) and potential solutions.
“The goal is to deepen our understanding of the issue, foster cross-sector collaboration, and ensure academic findings translate into real-world action,” Wells noted, stressing the importance of breaking down silos between the tech, policy, and research communities. The Fund provided financial support to ZanaAfrica for this research initiative.
Wells congratulated ZanaAfrica on the successful completion of its latest research project, calling it a valuable contribution to the global fight against online harm to children.
C“We are excited for the conversations and partnerships this work will spark,” Mr Wells said, reaffirming the Tech Coalition’s commitment to ongoing collaboration with researchers, industry leaders, and child protection advocates around the world.
Mr Wilson Macharia, Legal Advisor at the International Commission of Jurists, emphasized some key recommendations, including the importance of ensuring that children and youth with intellectual disabilities are fully and meaningfully involved in all relevant processes. This includes their participation in the development of online applications and in the formulation of policies and strategies aimed at preventing and addressing OCSEA. By actively including their perspectives and experiences, stakeholders can ensure that the measures taken are more inclusive, effective, and responsive to their specific needs.
Further, Mr Macharia highlighted the urgent need for more comprehensive research focused on OCSEA as it affects children with disabilities broadly, and children with intellectual disabilities in particular. He notes that there is a significant gap in current research, and addressing this void is crucial for developing informed, evidence-based policies and interventions that truly protect this vulnerable group.
Some of the recommendations from the report include; creating nationwide awareness campaigns on OCSEA; building the capacity of parents and caregivers to protect children online, and developing specific laws and policies on online exploitation and abuse for children with intellectual disabilities. Other recommendations proposed are strengthening complaint, investigation, and justice systems; and training teachers countrywide on child protection and online safety using trauma-informed approaches.
As Kenya continues to embrace digital transformation, stakeholders warn that inclusive safety measures must be prioritized to prevent further exploitation of children with disabilities.
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