A couple was on Thursday arraigned in a Nakuru Law Court to face charges of subjecting a minor to child labour which is prohibited by the Kenyan Constitution.
Onesmas Kinyua, 48 and his wife Dorcas Nyambura, 36 were accused by the court for unlawfully employing an underage girl as a house servant at their residential house in Naka Estate within Nakuru town.
Prosecution desk informed Chief Resident Magistrate Felix Kombo that the accused were arrested by police officers from Lanet Police Station in the evening of February 17 this year in the company of Children’s Affairs officer who had been investigating the accused following a tip off by members of the public.
The court heard that the accused had colluded by a relative of the 13-year-old girl to subject her to child labour where she was to work as a house help involved in many hardship home house chores that her age could not withstand.
The couple however denied the charges arguing that they were living with the minor on humanitarian grounds after having learned that she was an orphan.
They were released on a cash bail of Sh30,000 each awaiting the hearing of the case in March 13.
The court further directed that the minor be handed over to Nakuru Children’s home and that the children’s officer should do all he can to take the said relative of the minor in court during the next hearing date.