DENIS EUSTUS GITONGA MATHENGE
Children Protection Officer
Murang'a County
Summary
Child protection, safeguarding, and ethics professional with 6+ years of experience in the Government of Kenya, combining frontline case management, safeguarding programme delivery, PSEAH-adjacent training, and multi-stakeholder coordination. Demonstrated expertise in managing 500+ child protection cases with strict confidentiality, applying survivor-centred and trauma-informed approaches, and delivering capacity-building training to multi-agency officers across government, law enforcement, and NGO sectors. Certified in GBV response, Online Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (OCSEA), and Preventing Violent Extremism (PVE). Experienced in implementing USAID, Legatum Foundation, and ChildFund Kenya-funded programmes with strong accountability, compliance, and reporting standards. Committed to upholding the highest standards of integrity, professional ethics, and duty of care. Currently pursuing an MSc in Project Planning and Management. Fluent in English and Swahili.
Overview
6
6
years of professional experience
8
8
Certifications
3
3
Languages
8
8
years of post-secondary education
Work History
Children Protection Officer
State Department for Children Services, Government of Kenya
02.2021 - Current
- Managed 500+ child protection cases on the Child Protection Information Management System (CPIMS), applying survivor-centred and trauma-informed approaches, maintaining strict confidentiality, and generating data-driven insights to inform multi-agency referrals to the National Police Service and the Judiciary of Kenya.
- Applied GBV response protocols, OCSEA mitigation measures, and child safeguarding standards in case handling and community engagement, ensuring compliance with national and international child protection frameworks.
- Identified and documented safeguarding risks and protection gaps through frontline case evidence and community feedback, contributing to evidence-based recommendations for policy and programme strengthening.
- Collaborated with ChildFund Kenya to implement Community-Based Child Protection Mechanisms (CBCPM), mapping community protective structures, facilitating multi-stakeholder dialogues on risk and capacity gaps, and supporting integrated community-led safeguarding interventions.
- Supported the implementation of the USAID 4 Better Health programme, delivering psychosocial support and community-based health linkages for children infected and affected by HIV/AIDS, with adherence to donor safeguarding and accountability standards.
- Conducted structured data collection with 480+ households (Nurture First partnership), producing safeguarding evidence to strengthen community-based child protection systems.
- Operated CT-MIS for end-to-end delivery and accountability reporting of social protection programmes, ensuring accurate records and compliance documentation.
- Capacity Building, Training, and Prevention
- Trained 60+ multi-agency officers from the Ministry of Education, National Police Service, and National Government Administration Officers (NGAOs) on the Children Act 2022 and Care Reform Strategy, applying adult learning methodologies and participatory facilitation techniques.
- Served as Trainer of Trainers (ToT) in Care Reform and Alternative Care Systems, developing and delivering training curricula and building sustainable safeguarding capacity across government, NGO, and community stakeholders in Murang'a County.
- Mentored community focal points and volunteers on child protection, safeguarding obligations, and survivor-centred approaches, strengthening local capacity for ethics and accountability.
- Designed and delivered advocacy communications on children's rights and safeguarding standards to government officials, development partners, and community groups.
- Compliance, Coordination, and Representation
- Served as Committee Member of the Street Families Rehabilitation Trust Fund (SFRFT), Murang'a County Chapter, representing children's welfare interests and influencing county-level rehabilitation and reintegration policy.
- Co-authored the Murang'a County Children Policy 2024, coordinating multi-stakeholder inputs and translating frontline safeguarding evidence into binding county-level child welfare legislation.
- Maintained strong working relationships with multi-agency partners including government ministries, law enforcement, judiciary, NGOs, and international donors, supporting coordinated case referrals and compliance tracking.
- Prepared programme reports, briefings, and stakeholder communications for government and development partner audiences, including USAID, Legatum Foundation, and ChildFund Kenya.
- Engaged 500+ community members through the Inua Jamii Safety Net Programme, supporting accountability to affected populations and expanding access to protection and social services.
- Partnered with the Legatum Foundation in the Legacy 4 Children (L4C) programme across Murang'a, Kiambu, and Meru Counties, coordinating cross-county safeguarding programme delivery and community engagement.
Entrepreneur, Distribution Business
Self-Employed
11.2019 - 01.2021
- Managed business operations, financial administration, procurement, and stakeholder relations, building transferable skills in organisational compliance, records management, and professional integrity.
- Built strong brand recognition and customer loyalty by delivering high-quality products and services consistently over time.
- Improved customer satisfaction with exceptional project management skills and timely delivery of products and services.
- Managed financial aspects of the business including budgeting, forecasting, cash flow management, and financial reporting to stakeholders.
- Determined business plan, mission statement, and vision.
- Streamlined operations by identifying inefficiencies and implementing cost-saving measures that improved overall profitability.
- Successfully navigated challenging economic conditions by adapting business strategies quickly in response to changing market dynamics.
- Developed strategic partnerships with key industry players to enhance brand visibility and credibility.
- Secured partnerships and alliances with key stakeholders, expanding market reach and enhancing product offerings.
Education
Master of Science - Project Planning and Management
University of Embu
Kenya 09.2025 - Current
BSc. - Community Development
Chuka University
Kenya 09.2015 - 10.2019
Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) -
Kianyaga High School
Kenya 01.2011 - 11.2014
Skills
Safeguarding, PSEAH, and Ethics
Protection from Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment (PSEAH) programming and survivor-centred approaches
Child protection case management with strict confidentiality and trauma-informed practices
Safeguarding risk assessment, mitigation planning, and contextual adaptation of safeguarding tools
GBV response, Online Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (OCSEA) mitigation, and duty of care
Code of conduct compliance, ethics reporting mechanisms, and accountability to affected populations
Preventing Violent Extremism (PVE) and counter-fraud awareness
Investigations and Case Handling
Case documentation, intake recording, and case tracking in CPIMS (500 cases managed)
Sensitive information handling, evidence-based reporting, and multi-agency referral coordination
Report writing for government authorities, donors, and judicial/law enforcement bodies
Post-case follow-up, management action planning, and compliance monitoring
Capacity Building and Training
Trainer of Trainers (ToT) in Care Reform, Alternative Care Systems, and child protection frameworks
Communication skills
Organizational skills
Teamwork and collaboration
Problem-solving
Excellent communication
Adaptability and flexibility
Data protection
Problem-solving aptitude
Analytical thinking
Interpersonal skills
Continuous improvement
Accomplishments
- Safeguarding Case Management at Scale: Managed 500+ child protection cases with full confidentiality and survivor-centred practice, generating referral intelligence that directly informed responses by the National Police Service and Kenya Judiciary.
- PSEAH-Adjacent Programme Delivery: Implemented OCSEA, GBV response, and community-based child protection mechanisms across multiple donor-funded programmes (USAID, Legatum Foundation, ChildFund Kenya), applying internationally recognised safeguarding standards.
- Multi-Agency Capacity Building: Trained 60+ officers across government, law enforcement, and NGO sectors as Trainer of Trainers in child protection and safeguarding frameworks, building a sustainable cross-sectoral safeguarding workforce.
- Policy and Compliance Leadership: Co-authored the Murang'a County Children Policy 2024, embedding safeguarding standards and frontline evidence into binding county-level governance.
- Community Accountability and Feedback: Engaged 500+ community members through social protection and safeguarding programmes, strengthening accountability to affected populations and safe reporting channels.
- Ethical and Donor Compliance: Consistently delivered against accountability and compliance requirements for USAID, Legatum Foundation, and ChildFund Kenya, maintaining high-quality documentation and reporting.
Certification
Online Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (OCSEA) – ChildFund International (2024)
Timeline
Master of Science - Project Planning and Management
University of Embu
09.2025 - Current
Children Protection Officer
State Department for Children Services, Government of Kenya
02.2021 - Current
Entrepreneur, Distribution Business
Self-Employed
11.2019 - 01.2021
BSc. - Community Development
Chuka University
09.2015 - 10.2019
Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) -
Kianyaga High School
01.2011 - 11.2014