Peninah is a teacher by profession. Before training as a paralegal in the year 2004 she was not aware of the laws relating to children rights and welfare. Neither did she know about the UNCRC nor ACWRC nor the Children Act 2001.

According to her, before she was trained as a paralegal, violation of child rights was part of life despite the fact that some cases of child abuse were very disturbing, which saw her much interested in acquiring knowledge and skills in handling such cases. The ban on the use of corporal punishment in 2001 was also viewed as a way of inviting indiscipline in children as there was a belief in the myth “spare the rod spoil the child”.

As an official of the Legal Aid Committee in Lower Ambira Community Child Development Programme, one of the special programmes by ANPPCAN Kenya Chapter, Peninah was trained on the laws protecting children and the duties of a paralegal. She was imparted with skills in community mobilization, identification of cases of child abuse and neglect, advocacy, raising awareness on child rights. She is now able to conduct advocacy through formal and non-formal means and in any forum. She is able to interact with fellow teachers as a paralegal to discuss issues of child abuse and the welfare of children.

The role of paralegals, as per the training offered by ANPPCAN Kenya Chapter, involves intervention into cases of child rights violation in the community.

She has intervened into several cases. One of the cases involved a couple who had frequent domestic misunderstanding. The lady was on several cases assaulted by her husband. This had severe negative impact on their child’s welfare. The lady could not endure the assaults and decided to separate from her husband, leaving the child under the custody of its father. The child suffered neglect as it was left under the care of neighbor who sometimes mistreated the child.

Having realized the hardships and neglect the child was going through, the paralegal decided to talk to the couple separately about the need to come together for the sake of the child’s well-being based on the laws protecting children. The couple was counseled and has managed to stay together peacefully. The child is now well taken care of and out of the dangers of neglect. This is just but one of the many cases she has handled successfully.