An administration chief has given a stern warning to parents who have been overworking their children contrary to various children’s Acts.
Willis Ochari of Bombo from Nyamira County on Thursday said the situation was escalating and it needed to be tamed.
He said underage students were subjected to hard labour and at times assaulted by their parents as a punishment when they fail to comply with orders.
“Acts of child labour and abuse are rampant in this area. Melancholically, it is parents and not strangers who are executing the hyena’s acts despite constant warning from my office,” he said.
“I have received cases of children who are at times barred from going to school. Some of them have gone to an extent of brutally beating these young people contrary to the law,” he added.
He said perpetrators will be apprehended and arraigned in court, urging responsible parents to report such cases in his office.
“We are investigating specific cases and I will arrest the suspects once I conclude investigations. This is a collective responsibility and that is why I am urging responsible parents to report such cases,” he said.
According to him, the irresponsible parents have been directing their children to fetch water even during school hours, making children to miss essential lessons that might affect their performance in the long run.