Since the law has failed to protect our children, let us turn to Technology

Ever wondered why people are increasingly entrusting the safety of their kids to dogs instead of their neighbors or fellow human beings? Well, the reason can be summed up in this short sentence: Humanity is diminishing in humans, and in a very alarming way. For how else do we explain the high cases of child abuse, rape and other beastly acts perpetrated against our innocent children? The law has so far let us down. In Kenya for instance, child molesters have had a safe haven for way too long. They know that the judicial system is ineffective; even if one is caught red-handed bullying a helpless young one and arraigned in a court of law, the long winding investigation that characterizes each such case will surely deny the child justice. The ineptitude displayed by these law enforcers and investigators is just disgusting.

The question that rings in my mind as I think through this matter is; in this era of technology, should anyone walk scot-free after committing such grievous a sin? The answer is a big NO. Technology should help us to be in constant watch over the vulnerable members of our society, and in case anyone thinks that s/he can get away with the crime of assaulting/molesting/harassing anyone else, the same technology should enable us table such undeniable evidence that these inhumane human beings will have no counter argument. So far we have had some progress; the installation of security cameras in the hidden streets and corners has seen cases of child abuse and other crimes such as mugging reduce. Commendably, some parents have also embraced installation of hidden cameras in their houses to catch rogue house-helps who are in the habit of over-smacking the kids left under their care for no reason. However, more ought to be done.

I was, not so long ago, pleasantly surprised reading an article about a father who, wanting to go an extra mile in protecting his daughter, slid a recording device in the kid’s hair as she left for school. Here is the article, and for those who don’t have time to read through it, Tomas Valerio, after getting complains from her daughter about a certain overbearing teacher, decided to do the clever thing of hiding the device in the daughter’s hair. The results? The man, on playing the recordings later in the day, caught the bullying teacher snapping at the kid and immediately transferred his child to another school. Great!

Now, am not suggesting that all parents go that way. However, desperate situations call for desperate measures. Am still wondering why by now, even after so many reported cases of kids being bullied in school by other kids or even by their teachers, why the ministry of education has not passed as a requirement that security cameras should be installed in every classroom and every part of the school compound. For how will we catch a male teacher who has a tendency of leaning way too close to a female pupil/student when explaining a point? Or another one who touches her inappropriately? Let the parents also be granted the right to walk into the school any time and view the recording of the class in which their child sits. If the ministry tarries in doing so, parents of school going children should rise in one voice and make it clear that the safety and well-being of their children comes first.