Migori County in collaboration with local Non-Governmental Organisation (NGOs) has launched the Migori County Advisory Committee, aimed at protecting children rights.
Speaking at a hotel in Migori town, the County Coordinator of Children Services Sammy Korir said the advisory Committee will help in addressing pertinent issues affecting local children including child labour, teenage pregnancy and school dropout.
Korir appreciated support from the government departments, the County Government, local NGOs and faith-based organizations who have been working together to protect the interests of children in Migori.
However, the coordinator expressed fears that with the school’s closure for December holidays, incidences of teenage pregnancy and child labour may rise, but affirmed that they will engage with the relevant authorities to prevent the same.
“Together as a team, under the leadership of the County Commissioner we will sensitize the community on the importance of child education and the effects of teenage pregnancies at the ward levels,” he said.
On his part, the County Executive for Health Services Julius Nyerere said that they will continue working closely with the national government in providing advisory and preventive roles to help mould the children in the right way.
“We have been recording a lot of teenage pregnancy which we want to eliminate by making sure we engage the guardian on the right course to help our future generation,” he said.
Nyerere also noted that the county had established a working station to deal with gender-based violence, so as to complement effort by the national government.
In 2022 Migori County launched the Sexual Harassment and Gender Based Violence County Policy, meant to curb women violence, early marriages, FGM and teenage pregnancies.
Nyerere appealed to the area residents to help the police by reporting cases of gender-based violence and give justice to the victims, who are mainly women.
He also added that the county management will team up with national government officials where possible to help protect the welfare of their children.
Meanwhile, World Vision Official Lilian Anyango through a programme dubbed, The Kenya big dream has been engaging not only to protect the interests of children, but also to ensure that the human rights of individuals are not violated.
Anyango applauded the formation of the County advisory committee saying that it will be able to promote child protection from the evils of FGM, child labour, teenage pregnancies and early marriages.
However, Migori County Commissioner David Gitonga cited that the national government had adopted an all-inclusive government approach to ensure they reach every stakeholder for efficient service delivery.
Gitonga noted that the key ingredient for children’s protection was to operationalize the Constitution on the rights of the children in accordance with Article 53 Chapter 4 of the Kenyan 2010 constitution.
The county commissioner emphasised that the main function of the advisory committee will be to bring the national and county governments with other stakeholders together to advise on children’s rights and sensitize the people on these rights.
He said that the county was facing numerous challenges including child abuse, HIV/Aids, early pregnancy and barbaric cultural practices like FGM.
Gitonga also underscored the need to promote positive parenting and create an enabling environment that is safe and secure for the county children.
By Geoffrey Makokha
