Forty-five per cent of school going children are in child labour, Evans Munga, the project manager of Teres Des Homes (TdH) Netherlands in the country, has revealed.
Munga was making his presentation during the opening day of a three-day workshop for journalists on their role in raising awareness of forced child labour.
He said the highest poverty levels in the county, which currently stands at 83 per cent is contributing to the increase in child labour cases with six cases lying in court.
Munga said TdH is supporting 10 schools in Teso North and similar number in Matayos Sub-county, adding that there are five childless clubs with five mentors in each of the sub county under the mentorship of head teacher and two teachers training learners on skills parenting.
Munga said that six out of 10 people in Kenya are involved in child labour and are engaged in activities like sand harvesting, fish loading, saloon, barber shops, house chores, shamba boys, construction and hawking.
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“Poverty is one of the drivers of child labour. Oversight is critical component with media, playing a pivotal role by creating awareness, and people need to be enlightened,” he said.
County Director for Childrens Services, Esther Wasige regretted that there is no effective implementation of the existing laws, noting the laws should be implemented to the letter.
Wasige said there is an urgent need to harmonise the existing laws, including Employment and Children Act, adding that preservation of evidence is very important.
Amos Makori said Busia is porous border with most unsafe migration for labour exploitation trafficking experienced, noting that there is need for strengthened implementation of child labour laws and policies in the service industry.
Child labour refers to exploitation of children who are deprived of their childhood by work that prevent them from attending school or causes physical, mental and social harm.
TdH founded in 1965 as a non-profit organisation with a global office based in The Hague, Netherlands.
By Godfrey Wamalwa
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