Kisii and Kericho counties in Kenya take bold steps against child labour

Kisii and Kericho, Kenya, 29 Feb - 15 March - The counties have made significant strides in combating child labour by establishing County Child Labour Committees, marking a pioneering effort in the country. These newly formed multi-sectoral committees comprise representatives from various Government Ministries, Departments, and Agencies, all playing pivotal roles in addressing child labour. The committees aim to raise awareness among stakeholders about child labour issues, conduct joint labour inspections in tea and coffee value chains, mobilize resources to eliminate child labour, and monitor and evaluate related activities, including mapping child labour-affected areas in sub-counties.

In Kericho County, Hon. Judith Chirchir, the County Executive Member for Education, Culture, and Social Services, emphasized the importance of a multi-sectoral approach in combating child labour, highlighting the collective effort required for effective action. Mr. Gilbert Kitiyo, the County Commissioner, expressed confidence in the commitment of both National and County Governments to collaborate in eradicating child labour, noting the county's robust administrative system's capability to identify and address instances of child labour effectively.

Similarly, in Kisii County, a committee has been established to address child labour, focusing on critical value chains in the coffee and tea sectors. Led by Deputy County Commissioner Ms. Grace Ouma, the committee aims to design interventions and oversee project implementation, collaborating with identified high-prevalence areas in the county. Mr. Eric Ongeri, the County Chief Executive Committee Member for Youth, Sports, Culture, Arts, and Special Services, reiterated the County Government's commitment to collaborating with stakeholders in addressing youth-related challenges, including drug abuse, defilement, teenage pregnancy, and female genital mutilation (FGM).

The County Child Labour Committees (CCLCs) play pivotal roles in facilitating and implementing child labour elimination processes at the county level. Comprising stakeholders from various sectors, these committees coordinate planning, resource mobilization, and project implementation activities aimed at eliminating child labour.