By Norah Musega
Migori County will conduct a raid in Migori town to put a halt to hawking by children in the streets of Migori town and other markets during the December festive season, the County Deputy Commissioner has announced.
Speaking during a function organized by interdenominational churches within Migori aimed towards ending Sexual and Gender Based Violence, Edwin Baraza noted that most children were loitering around as hawkers, a norm which made them fond of money at a tender age.
“Children start getting used to having money at a tender age and once they are incapable of securing formal jobs they start taking part in organized crimes creating an unbearable society for other citizens,” said Baraza.
He was flanked by Lazarus Ogwar who issued a stern warning to parents who use their underage children as hawkers that they risk being arrested for abetting child labour.
“It is through these hawking activities that our children experience sexual advances and harassment, especially during festive seasons which leads to a rise in child drop-out cases come January,” he noted.
Bishop James Openda supported the move and called on parents to monitor their children’s behavior and company to protect them from potential dangers.
