Stern measures will be taken against parents and guardians found engaging children in child labour in Lugari District of Kakamega County.

This was said by acting Lugari District Commissioner Mr. Richard Ajwang’ when he addressed Area Advisory Council (AAC) members for Lugari and Likuyani districts.

Ajwang said that he had already directed all chiefs and their assistants in the district to identify and compile reports of all school going children who have been employed as maids and herds boys, including those who staying home with their parents and submit the same to his office in two weeks time.

The acting DC noted that it was disturbing to see many young children out of school working on farms, especially in this time of history when the government was offering free primary education.

He warned that the government will met stiffer penalties any adult found to have enlisted labour services of young children to work on their home compounds or farms.

Ajwang disclosed that he has formed a subcommittee on education mandated to look into child related issues in the district.

On child defilement, Ajwang urged area residents to discard certain retrogressive cultural practices that have been identified and blamed for increasing the vice in the district.

Earlier in the meeting, Lugari Children’s Officer Mr. Alfred Abomah had pointed out that certain beliefs and cultural practices among area residents were partly to blame for cases of incest and defilement.

He regretted that some communities believed had strange beliefs about adult-child sex, with some claiming that such a habit could cure certain diseases or cleanse victims with abnormalities.

Speaking at the same function, Lugari deputy police boss Mr. Gregory Mutiso blamed primary school teachers for positing the highest number of perpetrators of child defilement in the district when they are supposed to be custodians of moral values.

Mutiso urged parents and guardians to desist from allowing young girls attend ceremonies such as funerals and circumcision which he identified as dangerous spots for child defilement.

He cautioned adult members of the family against sending young children out in the evening, saying such a habit was exposing the vulnerable to easily avoidable dangers.