Machakos governor’s wife Mrs Lilian Nganga has urged the county assembly to pass laws that will protect the rights of children.
Speaking at AIC Manyatta Children’s Home in Kangundo sub-county on Thursday, Nganga said that the rights of children have to be protected.
She said several cases of children being mistreated, denied education and being married off forcefully have been reported in some parts of Machakos.
“I want to ask our MCAs to formulate laws and policies that are geared towards protecting our children,” she said.
Nganga urged Machakos people to shun cultural practices that undermine the rights of children especially the girl child.
She condemned practices like child labour, female genital mutilation (FGM) and forced marriages that she said are being conducted in some areas.
She also asked the Machakos government to establish a fund that will help spearhead rights of children.
Nganga said that protecting children is the first step the government should take to guarantee their future as leaders.
She said that campaigns will be launched soon to castigate cultural practices that degrade children.
Nganga also vowed to champion for the rights of street children.
She called for rehabilitation and empowerment of street children in the county.