Parents in Kaptembwa location in Nakuru West Sub-County who hire out underage children to work for others in return for pay will be prosecuted, area chief Stephen Koech has warned.
Speaking on Wednesday, Koech noted that there was a high increase in the number of child labour incidences in the location and warned parents who send out their children into the practice to desist immediately or face the full wrath of the law.
Koech also added that children were entitled to dignity and sending them out to engage in economic activities beyond their ability was not only a violation to their rights but was also a crime.
"We have noted a sharp increase in the number of children being recruited into very strenuous economic activities some of which are beyond their strength.
To those parents who engage these minors in such difficult labour, kindly stop before we catch up with you because what you are doing is not only criminal but also immoral," he warned.
He added that during school holidays children were supposed to rest and help their parents in attending to family duties but not to be hired out like slaves.
The area chief, however, stated that his office would continue to partner with the county government to ensure that all children from the location obtain basic education.