KENYA: Kenyan Catholic Bishops Call for Protection of Migrant and Refugees’ Children

The Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops called for the protection of refugee and migrant children living in camps and cities across Kenya. In a message released on Sunday to mark the 112th World Day of Migrants and Refugees, the bishops warned against the exploitation of displaced persons.

The bishops' message, issued through the refugees, migrants and seafarers department, drew on a message from Pope Leo XIV. The Pope urged the faithful to listen to the stories, fears, and dreams of children and to recognize their dignity rather than treating them as numbers. The bishops stated that children in refugee centers should not be treated as statistics, burdens at borders, or forgotten casualties of regional conflict.

The conference urged civil authorities and humanitarian partners to prioritize the best interests of children. They called on both public and private institutions to use legal instruments and family reunification to protect children and prevent trauma. The bishops added that a society honoring human dignity must reject trafficking, neglect, exploitation, and detention without protection.