BUNGOMA — A dedicated County Child Labour Committee has been established in Bungoma County to tackle the persistent issue of child labor, with representatives from various government departments, faith-based organizations, and civil society groups.
According to Kenya News Agency, who spoke at the committee’s inaugural workshop on Friday, child labor remains a significant challenge across Kenya but has not been sufficiently addressed at the county level. The newly formed committee is set to play a critical role in advising on policy and actively monitoring, investigating, and reporting child labor incidents within the county.
Odete highlighted the committee’s mandate to intervene in situations where children are engaged in work detrimental to their health, wellbeing, and development, including scenarios where children are forced to work instead of attending school. He pointed out that Bungoma, as a border county, faces unique challenges such as cross-border trafficking and the use of children in smuggling contraband materials.
Additionally, Odete described how the local economy, heavily reliant on agriculture, often sees children working on family-owned and smallholder farms, as well as in the informal agricultural sector. The presence of long-distance truck drivers along the Mombasa-Malaba road contributes to other severe issues, such as child prostitution, further complicating the child labor situation in the area.
The committee aims to collaborate with both the National and County governments along with other stakeholders to formulate a comprehensive strategy to address these issues effectively. The ILO is supporting this initiative by helping the county develop a directory of service providers and a referral guide to enhance the coordination of all child protection activities in Bungoma. This resource will enable stakeholders to provide targeted support to children in need, whether it pertains to legal aid or educational opportunities.
Participants in the workshop included officials from both the National and County Governments, as well as various non-governmental organizations, underscoring the collaborative approach being taken to eradicate child labor in the region.