Kenya has amended its law on children’s rights - giving them more protection with a raft of changes including raising the criminal age of responsibility from eight to 12.
The amendments, which were signed into law by President Uhuru Kenyatta on Thursday, also require legal representation for children who are in legal trouble or going through the court system.
It stipulates that minor infractions by children should not be prosecuted through the courts but be handled by community-based support networks.
It also mandates that police stations have separate areas for children to prevent them from being held in detention with adults.
Other areas deal with the rights of a child to have parental care - though allows for separation if it is in the child's interest and makes it easier to organise adoption by a relative.
<<Print>>