According to the Children’s Act 2022, section 30, states, the duties and responsibilities of a child
as per the law are to (a) work for the cohesion of the family; (b) respect his parents, superiors
and elders at all times and assist them in case of need provided that the child’s best interest
shall remain paramount; (c) serve his national community by placing his physical and
intellectual abilities at its service; (d) preserve and strengthen social and national solidarity; (e)
preserve and strengthen the positive cultural values of his community in his relations with
other members of that community; (f) attend school unless prevented by factors beyond their
ability; (g) not discriminate against other children on account of ethnicity, race, disability,
gender, social status or other grounds; (h) protect the environment; (i) not abuse or harm other
children; and (j) not destroy any property. Duties and responsibilities of a child.
The parental responsibilities under section 31 subsection (2) of the same Act (1) include (a) the
duty to maintain the child and, in particular, to provide the child with (i) basic nutrition; (ii)
shelter; (iii) water and sanitation facilities; (iv) clothing; (v) medical care, including
immunization; (vi) basic education; and (vii) general guidance, social conduct and moral values;
(b) the duty to protect the child from neglect, abuse, discrimination or other differential
treatment; (c) the duty to— (i) provide parental guidance in religious, moral, social, cultural and
other values that are not harmful to the child; (ii) determine the name of the child; (iii) procure
registration of the birth of his or her child; (iv) appoint a legal guardian in respect of the child;
(v) receive, recover and otherwise deal with the property of the child for the benefit, and in the
best interests, of the child; (vi) facilitate or restrict the migration of the child from or within
Kenya; (vii) upon the death of the child, to arrange for the burial, cremation of the child or any
other acceptable method of interment; and (d) the duty to ensure that, during the temporary
absence of the parent or guardian, the child shall be committed to the care of a fit person.