By Shaban Omar
In a quest to safeguard children in Kwale County, a group of dedicated community child protection committee (CCPC) volunteers from Lunga-Lunga sub-county have been empowered with bicycles, transforming their ability to reach vulnerable children and families in even the most isolated villages.
For years, these unsung heroes have faced difficult terrains and vast distances, relying on foot travel to respond to cases of abuse, neglect, and exploitation.
But now, with bicycles issued to the volunteers as a pilot initiative courtesy of World Bicycle Relief and Kids Care Kenya in partnership with community champions, the CCPC can journey farther and act faster, weaving a stronger safety net for children across the county.
Rebecca Mbithe from the Vanga ward within Lunga-Lunga is among the 200 child protection volunteers who have received the bicycles.
For Mbithe, the bicycles are more than just a means of transportation. They are a lifeline for the volunteers, enabling them to conduct regular visits, spread awareness of child rights, and respond swiftly to crises with a renewed sense of purpose and reach.
“The bicycles might be simple but for us grassroots child protection volunteers they are a beacon of a powerful legacy of resilience, compassion, and community-led action,” she said.
Mbithe said before, they had to trek for kilometres to dispense their duties sometimes incurring high transportation costs to reach children and families in need.
She added that cases of teen pregnancies, early marriages, and other violations against children have been on the rise in the area, largely due to limited awareness campaigns and the remote nature of many communities.
Mbithe said by bridging the physical and social distances, the bicycles don’t just strengthen Kwale’s child protection network but also set new standards for child safety.
The right defender said that the bicycles will provide volunteers with the flexibility they need, thus reducing both the time and costs of reaching out to remote communities.
She added that the mobility equipment will also allow them to connect with families more efficiently and consistently.
Mbithe noted that by cutting down on transportation expenses, the bicycles also empower volunteers to save money that can now go towards other development activities, ultimately enhancing their growth and living standards.
“The bicycles won’t just help us reach more children and families but they are a step toward a better quality of life for all of us involved,” she said.
Another Community Child Protection Committee member from Dzombo Ward, Mohammed Salim said that the bicycles come as a tremendous relief after years of facing challenges on the ground.
He said the CCPC volunteers have struggled for years with long journeys on foot, often through tough terrain.
For him, he had to cover nine kilometres, two times a week to serve the people in various villages.
Salim said that, with villages scattered far apart, they used to spend more time travelling than actually engaging with the communities and delivering vital services.
“Now, with these bicycles, we can focus our time and energy on what truly matters; protecting our children and supporting families,” he said gratefully.
Salim said that it would now be easier to attend monthly meetings, respond to calls for assistance, and strengthen efforts in child protection and community development.
He said that, at times, volunteers received distressing reports of child abuse, including cases of defilement, but were unable to respond effectively due to a lack of resources, with transport being a major challenge.
Pongwe-Kikoneni’s Ranson Nyambu said that the bicycles would enable community members to access essential child protection services more easily.
He added that those in need of transport assistance could use bicycles to reach areas where other transport options are available.
Nyambu said that they would no longer need to hire motorbikes, making it easier to conduct community outreach activities without obstacles.
He said that the distribution of bicycles symbolizes a significant step toward ending child abuse and other social vices in the region.
Executive Director of Kids Care Kenya George Baya said that since the launch of the child protection program, volunteers have faced various challenges, with transportation being a significant issue.
He said that, given the volunteers are unpaid, the provision of bicycles would alleviate unnecessary costs and simplify their work.
Baya said that the support would enable child protection volunteers to respond quickly and make referrals, thereby strengthening their overall efforts in child protection.
Regional Director of World Bicycle Relief In Charge of East Africa Maureen Kolenyo expressed their commitment to partnering with various stakeholders to ensure community workers have reliable transportation for their grassroots efforts and support vulnerable children.
She noted that they have trained some community members as mechanics to promote the sustainability of the bicycle program.
“Our goal is to keep the bicycles in good condition. To support this, we have trained mechanics and established a shop for spare parts in case of any breakdowns,” she said.
Kwale County Children Officer Zaphania Apoko expressed his gratitude for the donation, stating that the program will largely support the government’s efforts to combat gender-based violence and child abuse.
He said that the bicycle program will positively change the community’s perspective on child protection, as volunteers will now be able to reach even the most remote areas to conduct awareness campaigns.
Apoko stated that both government and NGO-led child protection agencies would be able to reduce transportation costs, leading to an improvement in the quality of their work.
Chief officer in the Department of Social Services and Talent Management Riziki Mwasoza said the county has made great strides in making sure child protection services are enhanced at the grassroots.
Mwasoza termed the bicycles’ donation as critical in promoting the fight against child abuse.
She said with bicycles the volunteers have a higher chance of greatly reducing the vice and protecting children and women who are mostly vulnerable.
