By Achola Bulimo Mathews
The International Labour Organisation (ILO) has urged various stakeholders to continue putting up more mitigation measures in curbing child labour, forced labour and human tracking in Bungoma County.
Speaking during a two day stakeholder Workshop in Bungoma Town, the ILO Partnership cum Legal Programmes Officer, Mr Andrew Odete, has noted that according to the Durban-call-to-action event held in South Africa last year, Kenya and other African Countries need to make efforts to have reduced cases by the Year 2025. The event’s theme was ‘Raise your hands for the safety of our Children’.
According to Mr Odete; Bungoma, Nairobi, Kajiado and Kwale counties are still experiencing a surge in cases of child labour, forced labour and even trafficking, something that he says is a big threat to their right of acquisition of basic education.
He said that many cases are in the agricultural production units and even private business enterprises, adding that they are involving children from the neighboring Uganda whereby they are illegally smuggled into the country through the porous Lwakhakha Border in Sirisia Constituency .
His sentiments were echoed by Mr Chris Duncan Agunga, man in –charge of Data at ILO, who noted that there was need for various agencies from the state and private sector to synchronize their Data towards a common agenda of total eradication of the vice in the society .
On his part, the Children’s Department officer in charge of Bungoma County, Mr. Maube Nauke, hinted that his office has received more than 3,000 cases reported by mothers involving issues to do with neglect of children .
Mr. Maube said that both National and County Goverments ought to work more closely in setting aside more budgetary allocations towards Children protection policies by setting up of Rescue Centers that are functional.
Bungoma Labour officer, Mrs. Hedwig Bahati and her counterpart, Mrs Christine Otieno, from the Labour Commissioner’s office assured that the ministry is keen in ensuring that Children are not exploited through employment offers.
Also present was the champion of Chidren Rights Maximilla Okello, who holds a Head of State Commendation Award, said that various organizations need to undergo more capacity building programmes so as to assist in ending Child Labour in Bungoma County .
The Bungoma Senior Assistant County Commissioner, Mrs Christine Chacha, noted that national government will continue partnering with various stakeholders through provision of Education sponsorship programmes to vulnerable children in the grassroots who might be on a high risk of being victims of child and forced labour.
This comes at a time when Bungoma County is in the final stages of coming up with a children rights protection policy .
