Parents from Mavoko Sub county have been told to keep children busy by engaging them in small household chores during this long holiday so as to avoid bad companies.
Speaking during Jamhuri Day Cellebrations at Mavoko Stadium in Machakos County, the area Deputy County Commissioner Makori Kodeck said that engaging children was the only justifiable way of ensuring the children do not get involved in any crime particularly when on long hoidays.
Kodeck said that the parents should not take advantage of the call to expose their children to child labour since it was illegal and if found would be arrested and arraigned in court according to provisions of the Kenyan laws.
"Do not take advantage of this call to expose your children to child labor such as collecting scrap metals to sell for some little coins as it is the norm in this area," said Kodek.
He said by engaging the children, they would be more responsible citizens hence productive and useful to the society.
The commissioner also took the opportunity to advise the parents not to misuse their moneys during this festive season arguing that next month comes with lots of responsibilities including school fee burden.
Makori said it was shameless for the parents to spend all their income and savings for Christmas celebrations only for their children to remain home as schools open early next year for lack of school fee.