Mining activities at Omoyo quarry in Nyamira came to a halt on Tuesday after an order by area assistant chief Wallace Nyamongo, following increase of cases of using underage children as casual laborers.
This comes a day after a group of disgruntled parents demonstrated to the chief's office, complaining of continued use of school children to offer cheap labour for businessmen trading with quarry owners.
Nyamongo cautioned businessmen against using the facility besides ordering the owner, to report to his office in less than 72hrs, to explain the allegations.
“I want to caution business people against executing their daily activities in the quarry. It is illegal henceforth because many parents have reported that underage children are used as casual laborers against the law,” he said.
“The owner should also report to my office and he has only three days to do so. He must explain why he is allowing child labour yet it is against the law,” Nyamongo added.
He pleaded with locals to restrict their children from being exposed to child labour and instead asked them to take advantage of free primary education and subsidised secondary school education and take their children to schools.
“No parent should allow their children to be exposed to such jobs at a young age. Education is almost free and I wonder why some people are not taking an advantage,” he said.