VOlUME 05 ISSUE 06 June 2026
1Faith Chelagat Maiyo, 2Gilbert Kimutai, 3Murumba Wangamati
1,2,3Maseno
DOI : https://doi.org/10.58806/ijsshmr.2026.v5i6n33Google Scholar Download Pdf
ABSTRACT
Community-based child protection mechanisms (CBCPMs) have gradually been developing across the Global South in response to the continuous vulnerabilities faced by children and inadequacy in the formal welfare systems. Even though there is constitutional and legal child protection framework in place in Kenya, there exist high cases of abuse, neglect, exploitation, poor reporting channels and lack of access to institutions in many communities. In this regard, this paper discusses the emergence of CBCPMs in Kisumu County, Kenya with focus on the connection between community vulnerability, institutional deficiencies and NGO facilitation. Guided by the Human Rights-Based Approach (HRBA) perspective, a mixed method research design was used in the research process. Data was collected from both quantitative and qualitative methods of data collection such as questionnaires, key informant interviews and focus group discussions among community members, community leaders, child protection actors and institutional actors from chosen communities in Kisumu County. Descriptive statistics analysis approach was used to analyze the quantitative data while thematic content analysis was done for qualitative data. From the analysis, it has been established that CBCPMs were established due to persistent violence and abuse, poor reporting mechanisms, poverty and unstable families, institutional deficiencies, and inaccessibility of child protection mechanisms by communities. It has also been found that even though the problem existed before the intervention, the NGO Plan International played an important role in institutionalization of the process by organizing committees, improving reporting system, enhancing community participation, and integrating the mechanism into formal accountability structures.
KEYWORDS:Community-Based Child Protection Mechanisms; Human Rights-Based Approach; Child Protection Governance; NGO Facilitation; Participation; Accountability; Kisumu County
REFERENCES1) Ostrom, E. (1990). Governing the commons: The evolution of institutions for collective action. Cambridge University Press.
2) Pateman, C. (1970). Participation and democratic theory. Cambridge University Press.
3) Abebe, T., & Bessell, S. (2011). Dominant discourses, debates and silences on child labour in Africa and Asia. Third World Quarterly, 32(4), 765–786.
4) Ackerman, J. (2005). Social accountability in the public sector: A conceptual discussion. Social Development Papers: Participation and Civic Engagement, No. 82. World Bank.
5) Ansell, C., & Gash, A. (2008). Collaborative governance in theory and practice. Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory, 18(4), 543–571.
6) Bovens, M. (2007). Analysing and assessing accountability: A conceptual framework. European Law Journal, 13(4), 447–468.
7) Brinkerhoff, D. W., & Goldsmith, A. A. (1992). Promoting the sustainability of development institutions: A framework for strategy. World Development, 20(3), 369–383.
8) Byrne, S., & Lundy, L. (2019). Children’s rights-based childhood policy: A six-P framework. International Journal of Human Rights, 23(3), 357–373.
9) Cleaver, F. (2001). Institutions, agency and the limitations of participatory approaches to development. In B. Cooke & U. Kothari (Eds.), Participation: The new tyranny? (pp. 36–55). Zed Books.
10) Cornwall, A. (2008). Unpacking ‘participation’: Models, meanings and practices. Community Development Journal, 43(3), 269–283.
11) Fox, J. (2015). Social accountability: What does the evidence really say? World Development, 72, 346–361.
12) Gaventa, J., & Barrett, G. (2012). Mapping the outcomes of citizen engagement. World Development, 40(12), 2399–2410.
13) Goetz, A. M., & Gaventa, J. (2001). Bringing citizen voice and client focus into service delivery. IDS Working Paper 138. Institute of Development Studies.
14) Goetz, A. M., & Jenkins, R. (2005). Reinventing accountability: Making democracy work for human development. Palgrave Macmillan.
15) Howlett, M., Ramesh, M., & Perl, A. (2020). Studying public policy: Principles and processes (4th ed.). Oxford University Press.
16) Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS). (2022). Kenya demographic and health survey 2022. KNBS.
17) Norad. (2020). Evaluation of community-based child protection mechanisms. Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation.
18) O’Donnell, G. (1998). Horizontal accountability in new democracies. Journal of Democracy, 9(3), 112–126.
19) Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). (2006). Frequently asked questions on a human rights-based approach to development cooperation. United Nations.
20) Save the Children Alliance. (2008). A common responsibility: The role of community-based child protection groups in protecting children from sexual abuse and exploitation. Save the Children.
21) United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). (2006). Applying a human rights-based approach to development cooperation and programming. UNDP.
22) UNICEF. (2012). Strengthening child protection systems: Evaluation of UNICEF strategies and programme performance. UNICEF.
23) UNICEF. (2013). Child protection resource pack: How to plan, monitor and evaluate child protection programmes. UNICEF.
24) UNICEF. (2021). Violence against children in Kenya: Findings from a national survey. UNICEF.
25) Wessells, M. (2009). What are we learning about protecting children in the community? An inter-agency review of evidence on community-based child protection mechanisms. Save the Children.
26) Wessells, M. (2015). Bottom-up approaches to strengthening child protection systems: Placing children, families, and communities at the center. Child Abuse & Neglect, 43, 8–21.
27) World Vision International. (2011). Community-based child protection mechanisms and child protection systems. World Vision International.
28) Wulczyn, F., Daro, D., Fluke, J., Feldman, S., Glodek, C., & Lifanda, K. (2010). Adapting a systems approach to child protection: Key concepts and considerations. UNICEF.
Cite this Article:Maiyo, F. C., Kimutai, G., & Wangamati, M. (2026). Community Need, Institutional Gaps, and NGO Facilitation: Explaining the Emergence of Community-Based Child Protection Mechanisms in Kisumu County, Kenya. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SOCIAL SCIENCE HUMANITY & MANAGEMENT RESEARCHS, 5(6), 1647-1654. https://doi.org/10.58806/ijsshmr.2026.v5i6n33