By Seliphar Machoni
Child labour remains a persistent crisis affecting millions of children globally. Despite
international efforts to combat this issue, many young lives are still marred by exploitation and
harsh working conditions.
In response to this problem, Bungoma County has inaugurated a new County Child Labour
Committee. Launched on Friday, the committee includes representatives from various national
and county government departments, faith-based organizations, and civil society groups.
The primary mandate of the committee is to address child labour issues and make decisions that
prioritize the welfare of children in the region.
During the launch, Andrew Odete from the International Labour Organization (ILO) CAPSA
program emphasized the committee's importance in tackling child labour cases in the county. He
noted that while child labour is a widespread issue across Kenya, it has often been inadequately
addressed at the county level.
“Cases of child labour at the county level have been inadequately addressed, and we want to
ensure that such cases are effectively dealt with,” Odete said.
The newly formed committee is expected to play a crucial role in advising on policy matters
related to child labour, monitoring its prevalence, investigating incidents, and keeping the Area
Advisory Committee informed about child labour issues.
Odete explained that child labour includes work that harms a child’s health, well-being, and
development, such as instances where children are forced to work instead of attending school.
“Child labour encompasses work that is morally, physically, and mentally detrimental, and we
want to ensure that children are not subjected to such work at an early age through this program,”
he said.
He highlighted several specific challenges faced by Bungoma County due to its unique
geographical and economic context. As a border county, Bungoma contends with issues related
to cross-border trafficking, including the smuggling of contraband using children.
Additionally, the prevalence of sexual exploitation, driven by the high volume of long-distance
truck drivers on the Mombasa-Malaba route, is a significant concern for children in the area.
“The agricultural nature of Bungoma’s economy contributes to another critical issue: the
involvement of children in smallholder and family farms, as well as the informal agricultural
sector. These forms of child labour are widespread and significantly affect the county’s younger
population,” Odete added.
The ILO project is supporting the initiative by helping the county develop a comprehensive
directory of service providers and a referral guide. This directory will facilitate coordination
among all stakeholders engaged in child protection activities, offering valuable contacts and
details for legal or educational support for children in need.
“This collaborative approach aims to strengthen the county’s capacity to address and ultimately
eradicate child labour,” Odete concluded.
