Chief Justice Martha Koome has urged Kenyans to embrace a whole-of-society approach in the fight against child labour, warning that no single institution can win the battle alone.
Speaking during the official opening of the Employment and Labour Relations Court Annual Symposium (ELRASE III) in Nairobi, themed “Elimination of All Forms of Child Labour and Access to Justice,” Koome called for collaboration across government, civil society, business, and communities to safeguard children’s rights.
“Justice for children is justice for society. In protecting their rights, we protect our collective future. Eliminating child labour is both a constitutional obligation and a moral duty,” said the CJ.
Koome challenged Parliament to strengthen child protection laws, the Executive to implement policies backed by resources, employers to embrace ethical practices, and citizens to safeguard children at the grassroots level.
The CJ insisted that the symposium must move beyond talk to concrete action that ensures children are found in classrooms and not workplaces. She also highlighted the Judiciary’s interventions, including the establishment of specialised Children’s Courts and the launch of the Child Justice Strategy (2023–2030) aimed at creating child-sensitive judicial processes.
Justice Koome underscored the critical role of the Employment and Labour Relations Court in interpreting and enforcing labour standards, adjudicating disputes, and protecting vulnerable workers.
Cabinet Secretary for Gender, Culture and Children Services, Hanna Wendot Cheptumo, hailed the forum as timely, noting Kenya’s progress in aligning laws with international labour standards. Principal Judge Byram Ongaya added that the gathering provides a platform for stakeholders to share progress, confront challenges, and commit to immediate actions against child exploitation
“Let us ensure that the conversations we hold here give birth to actions that protect the dignity, dreams, and rights of our children. Together, through justice, collaboration, and commitment, we can eliminate child labour.”
