Social
Kisii County is currently implementing a new project aimed at eliminating child labour in the tea and coffee sectors within the region.
The project dubbed, “Accelerating action for the elimination of child labour in Africa,” is spearheaded by the Ministry of Labour & Social Protection in collaboration with the International Labour Organization (ILO), social partners, line ministries and various departments.
Speaking during the International World Day Against Child Labour celebrations at Getembe primary school in Kitutu Central Sub County, the County Labour Officer Charles Muniko noted that since Kisii relies on agriculture for socio-economic development, there were notable forms of child labour witnessed in the sector.
“We are creating awareness on the dangers and consequences of child labour within the county as evidenced in tasks such as tea picking, coffee picking, fertilizer application and delivery of the cash crops to buying centres,” Muniko said. The Labour Officer added that activities including soapstone carving, hawking in the Central Business District (CBD) especially at Daraja Mbili market and prostitution were also becoming a growing concern among children in Kisii.
According to Muniko, these forms of exploitative labour are depriving the children of their right to access quality education and achieve better future prospects. Speaking at the same event, Kisii Central Sub-County Children’s Officer Joyce Keno emphasized the importance of educating a child adding that access to quality education provides children with equal opportunities.
Ms. Keno noted the government remains committed to ensuring that every child acquires education through the various programmes offered to boost the education sector, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds. “We have the Presidential secondary school bursary scheme and Inua Jamii programme that ensures orphaned children are supported with basic needs and education fully,” she said.
In addition, the Children’s Officer encouraged parents with children living with disabilities to liaise with the relevant department so that they can benefit from the kitty that supports physically and mentally challenged children to be in school up to tertiary levels.
A representative of Central Organization of Trade Unions (COTU) Thomas Mirere emphasized that children should be allowed to go through basic education before they are employed in any form of domestic work. Mirere called for collaboration among various stakeholders working with children to ensure they eliminate all forms of child labour and abuse in Kisii county.
Data from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) shows that 8.5 percent or an equivalent of 1.3 million children are engaged in child labour. The organization notes that the highest child labour rates (at more than 30 percent), are recorded in the arid and semi-arid land (ASAL) counties.
KNBS also reveals that child labour primarily occurs in informal production, particularly in the agriculture sector.