02/27/2024
*KERICHO COMMITS TO END CHILD LABOUR*
The Kenyan Constitution in Article 15, clearly advocates for the protection of every child from all forms of economic exploitation and from performing any work that is likely to be harzadous or to interfere with their physical,mental, spiritual , moral or social development.
It is in that spirit that the County Government of Kericho and the International Labour Organization(ILO), today held a consultative meeting aimed at Accelerating Action for the Elimination of Child Labour in the County in the tea and coffee supply chains.
The engagement revolved around entering into a memorandum of understanding and implementation agreement of the Accelerating Action For The Elimination of Child Labour(ACCEL) Africa Project ,which is set to be rolled out in four counties of Kericho, Kirinyaga,Meru and Kisii, and will run for the next five years.
According to ACCEL Africa Project Coordinators,Hellen Rintari and Duncan Chando, the project which is in its second phase comes at a critical moment when statistics show that 8.5% of children in Kenya(1.3million)are engaged in child labour with the highest rates being reported in ASAL counties.
Rintari said ACCEL project will bring on board all the actors along the various supply chains with the intention of addressing the root causes of of child labour in the county especially in the sectors of tea and coffee.
As a way of demonstrating Kericho's willingness to the fight against child labour practices, CECM in charge of Education, Social Services and Libraries,Hon.Judith Chirchir, who chaired the meeting, announced that Kericho was ready to host this year's World Day Against Child Labour, scheduled for 12th June, this year.
Mrs.Chirchir further noted that both the Executive and the Legislative arms of the County Government will work closely in the formulation and ratification of policy framework which will guide the implementation of the ACCEL project.
Those in attendance included, Hon.Brian Langat(CECM in charge of Lands, Housing and Physical Planning and Ag.ICE), Chief Officers, Alphonse Rotich(Executive Office of the Governor), Geoffrey Bett(ICE, Youth Affairs, Gender and Sports), Chief of Staff, Edgar Towett and Economic Affairs Advisor, Japhet Rotich.