Child neglect cases are on the rise in Busia County with Busia town leading with the number of children in the streets.
Speaking after a three-day training for Busia based journalists on Child labour, the County Children Services Director Esther Wasige said the cases of child neglect in the county have increased compared to last year.
‘Cases on child neglect have now reached 59% from 58% which was recorded last year. This is because we have sensitised our people on children rights who now understand the rights of children,’ said Wasige adding that the child custody cases are also on the increase.
Wasige stated that understanding of children rights by the media will help in handling child labor, trafficking and other cases involving children.
‘We want the media to understand the law that protects children from child labor and trafficking among other cases. We want them to understand how and where to report these cases and how they can help us to educate the community on children rights,’ she said
She attr
ibuted the rising number of cases to the continuous sensitisation of various stakeholders that are now reporting the cases to the Child Protection Information Management System.
‘Most of these cases are reported by well-wishers and community members and children who have been sensitized on their rights,’ she said.
Evans Munga from Terre des Hommes Netherlands said that a survey carried out by the organization revealed that 45% of school going children are involved in child labour.
‘This means that 55% who are not going to school are in child labour,’ he explained, adding that proximity to the border was a major contributing factor to the vice.
Munga added that high poverty index at the county (83%) was another push factor to child labour.
‘We have programmes on skillful parenting so that parents are able to protect and provide for their children at home,’ he said
He stated that the organisation is operating in 10 schools in Matayos and 10 schools in Teso North Sub County.
‘We are also reaching out to d
ifferent stakeholders in the community at the County and National level to create awareness and sensitization,’ he said adding that it was also building the capacity of law enforcement agencies and the media so that they can help the community in reporting cases of child abuse.
The official called for the implementation of the existing laws and policies adding that the organization has built the capacity of the County enforcement agencies so that they can enact policies that are geared towards supporting the fight against child labour.
‘There is also a need to strengthen parenting skills at the family level so that parents can provide for the needs and security for their children,’ he said.
Munga urged stakeholders to look at the best interest of the child whenever handling issues affecting children.
Busia County Huduma Centre Manager Mercy Jebet warned parents who allow their children to roam on the streets that they risked being arrested and taken to court.
Jebet reminded parents to take good care of t
heir children and ensure that they go to school.
‘We are working closely with other stakeholders to ensure that children’s rights are protected,’ she said.
She further challenged the Ugandan leadership to collaborate with their Kenyan counterparts to ensure that their children go to school instead of engaging in child labour at the Kenyan side.
The official disclosed that the government has managed to reintegrate a number of street children with their families adding that eight cases of child labour were ongoing in court.
Source: Kenya News Agency