BAN CHILD LABOUR,NYANZA COUNTIES URGED.

 By DICKSON ODHIAMBO.

    NOVEMBER 3,2014.

COUNTY Governments within the Nyanza region have been called upon to pass laws that would illegalize any form of child labour in various sectors within their counties.

This move is aimed at helping in improving educational standards in the region.

Increased cases of child labour, and early marriage have been cited as key challenges affecting the education sector in the formerly Nyanza region leading to massive drop out levels,

A report released by a community based organization working in various counties within the Nyanza  region indicates that most school going  children,  who are mostly orphans and vulnerable children are forced to drop out of school and engage in various forms of labour mainly in the Agriculture, fishing, and mining industries  within Kisumu, Migori, Homabay and Siaya counties. 

‘You will find children  as young as seven working in sugarcane firms while some are engaged in quarrying," Part of the report read.

The report indicates that the Nyanza region which boasted of being the country’s educational giant is now facing a number of challenges that need a joint stakeholders’ contribution to restore the fading academic glory.

James Akali the founder member of Akali educational foundation  has noted with concern that poverty Child labour, early marriage,  are some of the key factors affecting the educational sector along the lake region  hence,  various educational stakeholders in the region including professionals from various areas have been advised to  team up so as  to address the same.

 "Children stop going to school to engage in economic activities to raise money for their survival. Something has to be done about the situation,"

It is widely acknowledged that poverty is one of the main contemporary causes of child labour. Others are lack of girl child education, unemployment among parents, early marriages and abandoned children.

Apart from subsidizing the bursary scheme funded by various government and non governmental agencies, Akali has advised that professionals from the regional could be better role models in various schools.

The group has also been challenged to facilitate the building of better learning facilities, and provide learning materials within their localities, a move  that would help improve  performance in the said schools.

KISUMU COUNTY URP SUPPORTERS REQUEST AN OFFICE AS THE OFFICIALS OPERATES IN AN IRON SHEET MAKESHIFT.

By DICKSON ODHIAMBO.

SUPPORTERS of United Republican Party {URP} now want the Party Leader who is also the Deputy President William Ruto to facilitate the opening of a functional office in Kisumu County.

Led by the Kisumu County URP Secretary Mary Lenya, the Party’s supporters say since the last General Elections, they have not been able to have a proper functional office.

They say they have been operating within Mamboleo Estate in an Iron sheet one room which has been donated to them by a well wisher who has sympathized with them after they have operated with no office for more than a year.

The supporters say they appeal to their Party Leader DP William Ruto to intervene and save the situation.

They urged the Nyanza Regional URP Coordinator Zuberi Odhiambo Liete to help them access the Party Leader so that the issue can be addressed once and for all.

Lenya says they have been operating under difficult circumstance without proper office and furniture and was quick to add that they are fully committed in serving the party at the grass root level.

“We have been operating and Coordinating Our URP activities within Kisumu County without a proper office where we have been only doing our work in an iron sheet makeshift which has been donated to us,” they said.

Their sentiment comes barely a few days before President Uhuru Kenya and his Deputy William Ruto visit Kisumu County with an aim of inspecting development projects and initiating new projects to be undertaken by the Jubilee Government.

KISUMU CENTRAL CONSTITUENCY PARENTS WANT THE AREA GAZETTED AS A SUB-COUNTY.

By DICKSON ODHIAMBO.

A NUMBER of Parents within Kisumu Central Constituency wants the Government to immediately gazette it as a Sub-County.

They say that since the Constituency was hived off from the then larger Kisumu Town West Constituency, it has not no gazettement as a Sub-County despite being operational a after the March 2013 General Elections.

They appeal to President Uhuru Kenyatta Kenyatta who is to visit the region to consider announce the gazettement of the Constituency as a Sub-County.

The parents say they do not want a scenario where their school going children have been enrolled this year for the National Exams under the Kisumu East Sub-County and other Sub-Counties.

The parents says there ahs been laxity among the political leaders within the area, adding they should work as a team and ensure the area is fully gazette by the Government as a Sub-County.

Speaking to the press on behalf of the Parents within Kisumu Central Constituency, United Republic Party {URP} Coordinator in Nyanza Zuberi Odhiambo Liete says it is very unfortunate that the Kisumu Central Constituency has not been gazetted as a sub-County despite being operational since Last General Elections.

Odhiambo who also contested the Seat on URP Ticket but lost in the last General Election says the gazettement of the area as a sub-County is long overdue.

He appealed to the Jubilee Government under President Uhuru Kenyatta and his Deputy William Ruto to ensure it is gazetted fully.

The Kenya National Association of Parents Nyanza Regional Chairman Omollo Ogweno says it is quite unfortunate that Kisumu Central Constituency became operational after March 2013 General Elections and since then it has not gazetted as a Sub-county for administrative purposes.

He says the gazettement should be done at this time when President Uhuru Kenyatta is set to visit the region, adding that they will not allow their children to be registered for the National Exams in other centers in other Sub-Counties like this year was done during the national exams registration.