The high number of children involved in scrap metal business in Migori, Rongo, Isebania and Awendo towns is worrying, local leaders have lamented.
The persistent trend, some leaders say, could interfere with the children’s return to school this week after a two-month long holiday out of schools that were closed late October last year.
The leaders, led by Migori County Chamber of Commerce and Industry Chairman, Arwa Rumo, also said the children are involved in petty crimes, as they move from estate to estate in search of scrap metals like utensils, some of which they steal from homes and even vandalize public structures.
“It seems some parents have abandoned guiding their children and a number of the teenagers, some as young as 10 years old, had taken advantage of the long lull in learning to try to make little cash as they are exploited by adults who buy the metals from them” Rumo said.
The official said by vandalizing property, the children are posing a high risk to the economy of the region by destroying important structures like road signage kits and guard rails on bridges.
He called on the Migori County Security team led by the County Commissioner Kisilu Mutua to consider banning the scrap metal business in the area.
Rumo’s concern comes in the wake of complaints from the local children’s services office that the rate of child labour had gone up ten-fold in the region.
County Children’s Services Director, Simon Orenge decried that most of the children are abused by the scrap metal dealers saying the business must stop immediately if the youngsters’ education is to be protected.
“I also urge the law enforcement team to apprehend and charge parents who allow their children to engage in such negative activities and deal severely with scrap metal dealers who are promoting the vice,” he stressed.
Orenge also called for swift action to flush out children from sand harvesting and gold mining sites, where many have flocked in the recent past to make money at the expense of their education.
By George Agimba
