Bungoma County Launches Dedicated Child Labour Committee

Bungoma County has made a significant stride in combating child labour by inaugurating a new County Child Labour Committee. 

Launched on Friday, the committee is composed of 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 Organisation (ILO) CAPSA program emphasized the importance of the committee 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.