Migori: Children’s rights groups in Migori County are urging the government and private sector to collaborate in efforts to eradicate child labor and other forms of child abuse across the country.
According to Kenya News Agency, the groups, under the National Child Welfare Association of Kenya (NCWAK), have highlighted the detrimental impact of child labor on the country’s human resource potential. They have called for an immediate end to these practices, particularly in gold-mining regions within Migori County and other parts of Kenya, where child labor is rampant.
During a recent workshop in Awendo Township, experts identified these mining areas as hotbeds of abuse, with teenagers being exploited in hazardous conditions. Mr. Charles Otieno, chairman of NCWAK, emphasized the severe consequences of continuing child labor, warning that the country’s human resource development would be severely hampered if children remain in these perilous environments.
NCWAK has reported that child labor in goldmines leads to significant health and safety risks, including mercury exposure and mine collapses, which threaten children’s lives. Despite efforts to combat this issue, the prevalence of child labor in Migori County’s mining areas is increasing.
Mr. Otieno urged stakeholders, including civil society, educators, religious organizations, and the business community, to unite in defense of children’s rights and work towards safeguarding the future labor force. The association is also tackling other forms of child abuse, such as female genital mutilation (FGM), which persists in the Kuria community despite being outlawed.
The persistence of FGM, despite government and NGO campaigns, highlights the challenges in eradicating entrenched cultural practices. The practice continues to be conducted secretly, with little success in curbing it despite numerous forums and condemnations.
In addition to child labor and FGM, other abuses like child murder, molestation, and abandonment are prevalent in sub-counties across Migori, including Kuria, Nyatike, Rongo, Awendo, and Uriri. Mr. Otieno called for a concerted effort by religious leaders, parents, teachers, communities, and politicians to protect children’s rights.
Children deserve a normal life with access to education, healthcare, and shelter, and they require security, love, and care to thrive. The fight to end child labor and abuse remains critical to ensuring a healthy, resilient future workforce for the nation.
