Kenya has officially joined the Acceleration Action on Elimination of Child Labour (ACCEL) African Project, in a move aimed at accelerating efforts towards elimination of child labor in the Country.
The Ministry of Labour & Social Protection, in partnership with the International Labour Organization (ILO), inaugurated the project today in Nairobi with clarion calls to act on policies that will make the mission achievable.
The project which will be implemented four counties, in Kirinyaga, Kisii, Kericho and Meru respectively, comes at a time when Kenya is reviewing its National policy of child labor so as to streamline policies safeguarding children on labor issues.
The Ministry of Labour & Social Protection Cabinet Secretary Florence Bore while speaking during the launch stated that the project scheduled to take five years will accelerate action in elimination of Child Labour in the Tea and coffee sectors in Kenya.
She noted that the pillars of the project would include strengthening policy, institutional and legal frameworks, institutionalizing innovative and evidence based solutions, and scaling strategies through knowledge sharing ,partnerships and financing in elimination of child labor.
“Kenya as a member of the ILO is obligated to fulfill all the requirements of not only Convention No 182 on elimination of Worst Forms of Child Labour but also on Convention No 138 on minimum age for admission of employment,” Bore emphasized.
The CS further stated that even as the project takes shape, she is glad that the constitution of Kenya affords and guarantees the children the right to free and compulsory basic education and protection from abuse and inhuman treatment.
CS Florence Bore stressed the importance of mainstreaming elimination efforts across all value chains, emphasizing the government’s dedication to safeguarding children’s futures.
Present was Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Kenya Maarten Brouwer, who noted that putting children to labor is neglecting the potential future value of his or her labor that can be added through education. It reduces the chances of the child to self-develop.
“In confronting the harsh reality of persistent child labor, we must recognize the urgency of a holistic strategy. The multifaceted nature of this issue demands a comprehensive approach, targeting the very roots that sustain it. Only then can we safeguard the rights, well-being, and future of our children, paving the way for a brighter tomorrow,” Benson Okwaro, Deputy Secretary General COTU (K) said.
This groundbreaking initiative, funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands Government, is geared towards eradicating child labor in Africa’s cocoa, gold, cotton, tea, and coffee supply chains.
The ACCEL Africa Project enters its second phase, following a successful implementation in six countries across the continent. Kenya’s involvement will focus on the agriculture sector, specifically targeting the tea and coffee value chains.
The urgency of this endeavor is underscored by the 2020 Global Estimates of Child Labour, revealing a distressing rise in child laborers, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. Against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbating the situation, concerted efforts are crucial to achieve Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Target 8.7 by 2025.
By Alice Gworo
