The Missing Child Kenya Foundation says it has handled 1,883 missing children cases since 2016, highlighting persistent gaps in national data systems as concern grows over child disappearances across the country.

Speaking during an interview on Monday, May 25, 2026, Chief Executive Officer Maryana Munyendo said the organisation’s figures highlight continued fragmentation in reporting systems used by different institutions and agencies.

“From 2016 up until now, our organisation has handled about 1,883 cases in total,” Munyendo stated.

She said the foundation recorded 565 cases between 2016 and 2019, a decline in 2020 due to COVID-19 movement restrictions, 406 cases in 2021, 158 cases in 2025, and 41 cases between January and May 2026.

Munyendo added that increased public attention has led to more families reporting missing children through various platforms beyond law enforcement agencies.

“We have started receiving more cases… from different angles and different people who are hearing about different platforms that can assist,” she said.

She noted that the lack of a unified reporting system continues to affect coordination and response to missing children cases.

Ministry figures highlight wider national concern

The foundation’s figures come amid statistics released by the Ministry of Gender, Culture and Children Services, which indicate a broader child protection challenge across the country.

Official statistics from the Child Protection Information Management System under the Directorate of Children Services show 10,581 child protection cases recorded between January 2025 and March 2026.

The cases include 1,636 missing children (lost and found), 1,952 abductions, 6,820 abandonments, and 173 trafficking incidents. Authorities say 78 percent of the cases have been resolved through rescues and reunifications, while about 2,328 children remain unaccounted for.

Cabinet Secretary for Gender, Culture and Children Services Hannah Cheptumo said the cases are driven by factors including trafficking networks, online exploitation, poverty and household vulnerabilities. She spoke during International Day for Missing Children commemorations held at the Catholic University of Eastern Africa.

Principal Secretary Carren Ageng’o and other officials emphasised the importance of coordinated reporting systems, timely response, and increased use of the National Child Helpline 116 to improve case handling and survivor support.

Calls for unified data system

Child protection stakeholders have renewed calls for a consolidated national database to streamline reporting and improve tracking of missing children cases across institutions.

Law Society of Kenya President Charles Kanjama has described the situation as a “constitutional emergency,” calling for stronger legal frameworks, real-time tracking systems and enhanced inter-agency cooperation.

Recent cases involving missing, abducted and deceased children have intensified public concern, with stakeholders warning that fragmented data may underestimate the true scale of the crisis.