Nairobi: Stakeholders in Kisii County are poised to build synergy geared towards elimination of child labour, thanks to a partnership disseminating the popular version of the Children Act cap 141. The National Council for Children Services, in partnership with United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), World Food Program (WFP), and the International Labour Organization (ILO), met local stakeholders in a Kisii hotel to disseminate the version of the Act, in a move geared towards developing stronger collaboration with each entity, understanding its role and mandate in ending the vice.
According to Kenya News Agency, the Council's Children Services Officer Janet Mwema addressed the press during the meeting, calling upon all stakeholders to collaborate with others, stating that none can win the battle in isolation. Mwema noted that the Council, which regulates children's issues and oversees and coordinates government policies, remains committed to ensuring stronger partnerships.
The children's officer added that in Cap 141, children also have their mandate to respect authorities, desist from harming each other, be obedient, and protect the environment, among others. Mwema called for the protection of children from building bricks and working in tea and coffee farms during the holiday season, warning that perpetrators would face consequences from judicial actors as stipulated in the law. She, however, cited challenges in implementing the legislations of children policies, including poor coordination and lack of harmony.
ILO Child Protection Promotions Officer Duncan Agunga highlighted that Kisii County was of interest due to its agricultural nature. Agunga explained that agriculture accounted for 61 percent of all child labour cases, especially in the tea, coffee, and sugarcane sectors.
Kisii County Labour Officer Mercyline Etiang emphasized the importance of collaboration as a key factor in eliminating child labour, noting that only then would children be able to return and complete schooling. Etiang expressed concern over the persistence of the vice, explaining that it often went unnoticed because perpetrators view it as child work, thus hindering its elimination. She stressed that children should not work on cash crop farms due to exposure to hazardous farm chemicals, detrimental to their health.
The Labour officer added that mining and fishing also expose children to various risks, including long hours of work, particularly between 6pm to 6am. Etiang noted that children between the ages of 13-16 years are only supposed to work for a maximum of two hours a day, under supervision and guidance, to ensure they don't exceed their capability.
The exercise continues in other parts of the country, including Kisumu and Kericho counties.