Following the law, but losing the spirit of child protection in Kenya

This paper explores how an ostensibly child-centred system can fail to protect children. In some policy arenas, the Kenyan state is recognised as a leader in Africa for the care and protection of children at risk. Yet a case study of children's experiences illuminates how, despite adherence to a legislated framework and series of protocols, the Kenyan state proves unable or unwilling to ensure children's care and protection. The deployment of child-focused discourse and practice through bureaucratic documentation and judicial rulings camouflages (poorly) the state's neglect of children's perspectives and the fundamental risks to children, families, and communities.

The full article is available here:

http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/09614524.2012.673554