The criminal responsibility age was raised from eight to twelve in Kenya’s amendment to the law on children’s rights, offering youngsters more protection.
The revisions, which Kenya’s President, Uhuru Kenyatta signed into law, also mandate legal representation for kids who are in legal problems or dealing with the courts.
It also specifies that local support networks should deal with small offenses committed by kids instead of bringing legal action.
Additionally, it requires police stations to have designated spaces just for kids, preventing them from being detained alongside adults.
Other areas deal with a child’s entitlement to parental care; yet, they permit separation if it is in the child’s best interest and facilitate relative adoption.