Busia County Commissioner Sam Ojwang’ has put those abetting any form of child abuse or labour on notice adding that they risk facing the consequences of their actions.
Speaking at a hotel during the launch of a three-year child labour project dubbed “Komesha Ajira kwa Watoto” and funded by Netherlands government, Ojwang’ challenged all agencies involved in child protection arena to either take action against the perpetrators or action be taken against them for abetting child injustice.
“Child labour restricts children of their rights and limits their future opportunities. We must ensure that every child has equal access and good health, as well as freedom from exploitations. This will be achieved through sensitization, implementation of child protection policies and coordination of efforts by State and non-State actors,” noted Ojwang.
The UNICEF 2020 report and the International Labour Organization (ILO), show that 160 million children are in child labor. The report showed that 35% of Kenyan kids are subject to forced labor, sexual exploitation, and sometimes involuntary human trafficking. This is both within and beyond Kenya.
Busia, a border country, continues to suffer from child labour cases as many children are trafficked to work as househelps or attendants in service industries.
According to Magdalene Wanza, Country Director Terre de Hommes in the Netherlands, poverty, social norms, as well as gaps in legislation, are some of the factors that hinder child justice at Busia County.
Terre des Hommes Netherland (TdH NL) has agreed to enter a strategic partnership with Kenya to the tune of Euro 900,000 with Investing in Children and their Society (ICS SP) with Busia County and National governments on a three-year project dubbed “Action Against Labour Project” that focuses on exposing and eliminating child labour and all its forms in the service industry.
“Children are the most vulnerable members of society. When their rights are not fully protected, they end up losing their childhood,” said Wanza.
A case study of Matayos North Sub counties and Teso North Sub countries revealed that 83% of Busia County’s poverty index was due to orphanhood. This is due to HIV/Aids, Covid-19 aftermath, and limited knowledge about child labour acts.
Beatrice Ogutu, Executive Director of ICS, addressed participants from both the National and Busia County governments as well as non-State actors. She called for collaboration among all actors in fighting child labour and abuse.
“Many children work in hazardous and exploitative situations as cheap labour through their parents and friends. Busia being a border county it’s extremely hard to tame these acts, as children continue to move from Uganda to Busia Kenya in search of employment,” noted Ogutu.
To complement the existing efforts by the Kenyan government in protecting children from child labour, Action Against Child Labour will be implemented. This project will ensure that children have greater access to education and obtain relevant life skills for employment, and that families and communities have increased capacity to provide for their children’s needs and implement polices.
The three-year project targets 10,000 children aged 7-18, 50,000 community members, 2000 parents and caregivers, as well as other actors from Busia County, National governments, and includes 10,000 children.
By Absalom Nawalo and Salome Awanda
Source: kenyanews
