Parents and guardians have been called on to take up the responsibility of safeguarding children from physical and emotional abuse.
Kisumu West Sub-County children officer has said incidents of child abuse and neglect are on the rise in the area and has challenged members of the public to come out and report such incidences.
James Nyagah on Thursday said drug and alcohol usage among parents and guardians has led to most child neglect cases reported.
He has pledged to follow up and prosecute those neglecting minors, including denying them the right of access to health care.
"Some parents refuse to take children to hospital when sick for be believing that they are witchcraft victims. We are making follow-ups and those neglecting children are subject to prosecution," he said.
The officer has condemned recent cases of parents who allegedly burned hands of their sons aged 5 and 8 for having stolen Sh20 in Kisumu Central location and one in which a father allegedly sodomised a six-year-old son in Kisumu South West location.
He has discouraged parents from resolving such cases on their own as it has led to rampant duplication of the crimes.
"Most parents don't know how to discipline their children, they should distinguish between discipline and punishment, instead of discipline, they inflict pain on children," added Nyagah at his Maseno office.
The office, with the aid of Maseno Court Users' Committee, held a sensitization baraza on child neglect and abuse at Lela on November 30 and is set to cover other locations in the sub-county to create public awareness on handling child defilement cases.
Early in 2016, the children's department is set to conduct a children's assembly that shall give children a platform to air their grievances.
"We have organised a children's assembly, set for early next year and shall involve all stakeholders, including schools to give minors a chance to present their grievances," revealed the officer.
The journey to end violence against children is in accordance with Kenya's vision 2030 goals.