Scrap metal business is a threat to free basic and compulsory primary education in Athi River District.
This is according to the area Sub County Children’s Officer Faith Kamau who disclosed that child labour was increasingly rampant in the region.
“Child labour is high in this region with adults using children to collect metal for their convenience compromising the children’s right to education,’’ said Kamau.
She attributed this to high levels of poverty among residents and ignorance on the side of parents who do not monitor movements of their children.
The officer said children drop out of school for the trade as some trick their ignorant parents by leaving homes for school but do not reach, instead join their friends in the business.
She said the trade had attracted children of tender ages, as young as 4 – 6 years who usually get as little as Sh 5 in return to buy “mandazi” due to food shortages in their homes.
Kamau said there were many cases of employed children in Athi River, a situation she argued infringed children rights of being children.
“Children are drawn from rural areas by their relatives or caretakers who cheat them that they were taken to school in town but turned to domestic house helps on arrival,” lamented Kamau.
The children officer said her office had partnered with other relevant governmental stakeholders to sensitise communities especially parents and those in various businesses against engaging children in child labour.
Kamau who made the remarks at press briefing in her office sent stun warning to child perpetrators that they would face full wrath of the law.