Over 2,000 children in Baringo County — most of them living with disabilities — have been neglected in the past year, making Baringo the third worst county nationally for child neglect cases, according to recent reports from the Ministry of Children Services.
During a visit to Kabarnet, Principal Secretary for Children Services Caren Agengo painted a grim picture of the worsening crisis. She said many children with disabilities are hidden away by parents who fear stigma, while others are abandoned entirely at institutions like Kabarnet School for the Deafblind, where they are never visited again.
“The numbers are alarming,” Agengo said. “We’ve recorded over 2,000 cases of child neglect in Baringo alone. Children with disabilities bear the worst of it — hidden, shunned, and forgotten. It is time for the community to rise and address this injustice.”
The Kabarnet School for the Deafblind, the only one of its kind in East and Central Africa, was once a beacon of hope. Today, it’s on the brink of collapse, housing 81 severely disabled children under dire conditions.
The government slashed its annual funding from Ksh. 4.1 million to just Ksh. 400,000, leaving the school unable to pay staff or cover basic needs.
Eunice Chesang, the school’s principal, expressed deep concern.
“We have salary arrears dating back to 2017. Our teachers and caregivers haven’t been paid, yet they show up every day. Parents don’t return. During holidays, they switch off their phones. Some have even locked their children inside houses.”
Vincent Chelal, chair of the school’s board, called the funding cuts a form of abandonment.
“Reducing capitation from 4.2 million to 400,000 is nothing short of neglect. How do you expect us to feed, clothe, and support 81 special needs children with that budget?”
The situation is worsened by a severe shortage of staff, educational resources, and therapy services. Caregivers continue to work without pay, driven only by commitment to the children.
In rural Baringo, disability is still heavily stigmatized. Many parents fear being blamed or shamed. Some believe disability is a curse or punishment, and because of limited access to support and information, they retreat into silence — often to the detriment of the child.
Gender Cabinet Secretary Ann Cheptumo emphasized that the government must act.
“Every child has the right to care, education, and protection. What’s happening in Baringo reflects deeper systemic issues — stigma, poverty, and lack of social services. This is a shared responsibility.”
Baringo Governor Benjamin Cheboi pledged to work with national institutions to address the problem.
“We cannot let our children suffer in silence. We must ensure that no child is hidden, locked away, or forgotten simply because of a disability.”
The crisis in Baringo is a sobering reminder of the vulnerable children left behind in national policy, and the urgent need for action across all levels of government and society.
