Lunga Lunga child protection volunteers receive bicycles to boost their efforts

At least 200 Community Child Protection Committee (CCPC) volunteers in Lunga Lunga, Kwale County, have received bicycles to enhance their ability to respond to child protection cases efficiently.

The initiative, which aims to empower local volunteers in their fight against child abuse, was made possible through a partnership between World Bicycle Relief, Kids Care Kenya, and the Kwale County government.

The bicycles were handed over during a ceremony attended by local leaders, community members, and representatives from the partnering organisations. 

The donation marks the beginning of a pilot project aimed at addressing the transportation challenges that many volunteers face when working in remote areas of the county.

The volunteers had lamented difficulties in moving around due to lack of transportation.

A challenge that prevented them to respond to the cases on time.

The Executive Director of Kids Care Kenya George Baya emphasized the importance of the bicycles in improving the volunteers' ability to reach vulnerable children and families quickly.

"We believe that by addressing the transportation challenges these volunteers face, we can improve the protection and support services for children in this region," Mr Baya said.

The volunteers, who play a critical role in child protection, have often struggled with limited mobility in a vast area where cases of child abuse, neglect, and exploitation are prevalent. 

With the new bicycles, they will now be able to travel to the most remote areas, conduct awareness campaigns, and follow up on cases more effectively.

Kwale County's Chief Officer for Social Services and Talent Management Riziki Mwasoza welcomed the donation, calling it a vital step forward in the county's ongoing child protection efforts. 

“This bicycle donation is a game-changer. With better mobility, our volunteers will be able to reach children and families in hard-to-reach areas, reducing child abuse cases and offering more immediate support,” Ms Mwasoza said.

She highlighted that this partnership would not only reduce transportation costs for child protection agencies, but also improve the quality of services provided to vulnerable populations in the region.

“By improving the reach and effectiveness of our volunteers, we can better protect children and women—who are often the most vulnerable,” she added.

Ms Mwasoza said the Kwale County Government, in partnership with the Department of Children’s Services, is also working on a comprehensive child protection policy. 

According to Ms Mwasoza, a draft of this policy has already been prepared and is set to be presented to the county assembly for approval soon.

“The policy will focus specifically on child protection and should not be confused with the Gender Act, which addresses broader issues. Once approved, the policy will empower the county government to establish safe houses for children and lead focused advocacy programmes aimed at safeguarding the welfare of children in Kwale," she said.

The bicycle donation is expected to have a lasting impact on child protection efforts in Lunga Lunga and surrounding areas, ensuring that volunteers are better equipped to respond to the urgent needs of children facing abuse, neglect, or exploitation.