Chuka Law Students Take to Airwaves, Urge Communities to Embrace Child justice
By Sallo Gobana
Live on Weru TV in Meru County on 8th October, Chuka University School of Law students took to the airwaves ahead of their upcoming Child Justice Moot Court Competition to launch a powerful public advocacy drive, using Kenyan youth laws to break down how communities can champion rehabilitation over adult cell detention to protect vulnerable young offenders from institutional abuse.
The televised broadcast delivered a powerful wake-up call to the public, shifting the conversation around juvenile delinquency from punishment to restoration. By taking their legal expertise from the classroom straight to the living rooms of local citizens, the Chuka University team highlighted a critical reality: safeguarding children's rights requires more than courtroom legislation; it demands an informed, compassionate, and active community.
During the interview, law student Ivy Njoroge emphasized that protecting vulnerable minors begins with public awareness. She noted that a community blind to the legal rights of children cannot adequately protect them when they come into conflict with the law. Ivy also raised a critical alarm regarding youth detention, stressing that minors must be held completely separate from adult offenders. Failing to isolate children in custody, she warned, directly exposes them to severe abuse, harassment, and discrimination within the correctional system.
Detailing the legal framework, C.O.D. Allan Oduor clarified that Kenyan law firmly recognizes anyone under the age of 18 as a child. Oduor clarified that, depending on the applicable legal framework, qualifying minors are placed in dedicated facilities. He noted that what was initially established as an approved school system has evolved over time, with certain facilities now serving as borstal institutions overseen by the correctional services department. He emphasized that under no circumstances are these minors placed in the same cells used for adult offenders.
Adding to the call for reform, law student Rose advocated for community service and restorative justice as vital alternatives to detention. She argued that focusing on reformation and successfully reintegrating children into society provides a far more constructive and lasting response to juvenile offenses than relying solely on detention.
Beyond legal technicalities, the panel highlighted that the safety of children relies heavily on a proactive ecosystem. They challenged parents, teachers, child protection officers, and ordinary citizens to actively identify and report instances of child abuse, neglect, child labour, and sexual exploitation. Schools, they noted, serve as primary, safe environments where both learners and educators must be continuously sensitized on children’s rights.
The television appearance served as a vital curtain-raiser for the Child Justice Moot Court Competition hosted by the Chuka University School of Law. By taking the conversation to a mainstream media platform, these future lawyers demonstrated that achieving true justice for children requires a blend of strict legal enforcement and an informed, supportive community.
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