Child protection experts are calling for urgent legal, educational, and technological reforms to protect children with intellectual disabilities from the growing threat of online sexual exploitation and abuse (OCSEA). This follows the launch of a new report titled “Understanding Online Sexual Exploitation and Abuse of Children with Intellectual Disabilities in i highlights alarming trends in digital abuse targeting this vulnerable group.
The report, commissioned by ZanaAfrica in partnership with other child rights organizations, reveals that children with intellectual disabilities face heightened risks online due to communication barriers, low digital literacy, and their trusting nature.
Ms. Josephine Kisilu, Dean of Studies at the Kenya Institute of Special Education, underscored the urgency of the issue during her keynote address. “The country has experienced an upsurge of such violations, and what’s worrying is that the perpetrators cut across all social classes,” she said. Kisilu emphasized the need for data-driven solutions that inform both policy and community response.
ZanaAfrica Founder Megan White Mukuria spoke passionately at the event, drawing from her 24-year journey as a mother and child advocate in Kenya. “My life’s work is about unlocking the greatest opportunities for the greatest number of children—especially girls. And that starts with safeguarding,” she said.
Mukuria spotlighted ZanaAfrica’s initiatives, including the Nia Health Link hotline and chatbot, which have supported over 10,000 users, and monthly outreach to over 100,000 girls with health products and educational content.
She proposed scaling the Nia Health Link into a national digital safeguarding platform and integrating online safety into Kenya’s school curriculum to reach an estimated 13 million learners.
Beatrice Jane, ZanaAfrica’s Executive Director, echoed the call for action. “When adolescents struggle during this pivotal phase, the consequences—like teenage pregnancy, school dropouts, and long-term poverty—are dire,” she warned. Jane advocated for life skills training and trauma-informed education models, noting that over 500,000 youths have already benefited from ZanaAfrica’s Nia Learning programs.
The report also highlighted the significance of involving children with intellectual disabilities in policy development and digital safety design. Wilson Macharia, Legal Advisor at the International Commission of Jurists, stressed the importance of inclusive participation. “Policies must be informed by the lived experiences of these children if they are to be effective and responsive,” he said.
Macharia also called for expanded research into OCSEA affecting children with disabilities, noting a critical gap in current data. Recommendations from the report include: Launching national awareness campaigns on OCSEA; Training parents and caregivers in digital safety; Strengthening laws, investigation, and justice systems; Rolling out trauma-informed teacher training programs and embedding online safety into the national curriculum.
Alice Onsarigo, ZanaAfrica’s Program Manager, said the report serves as a key tool in shaping more targeted and effective interventions. “This report can guide educators, policymakers, and child protection agencies in making informed decisions that prioritize children with intellectual disabilities,” she said.
The event drew key stakeholders from education, child services, the judiciary, and civil society, including officials from the Ministry of Education, Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD), and the Judiciary’s resource mobilization department.
As Kenya continues its rapid digital transformation, experts warn that inclusive online safety measures must be embedded in national strategies to safeguard the country’s most vulnerable children. Mukuria concluded with a clear message: “Let’s prepare now—before scale becomes crisis.”