Principal Secretary for Children Welfare Services, Carren Ageng’o, speaks during the ELRASE III event at Strathmore University, Nairobi, on September 18, 2025./HANDOUT
The government has reaffirmed its commitment to eradicating child labour and enhancing access to justice for children, declaring the protection of childhood a national moral and legal priority.
Speaking at the close of the Third Employment and Labour Relations Annual Symposium and Exhibition (ELRASE III) held at Strathmore University in Nairobi, Principal Secretary for Children Welfare Services, Carren Ageng’o, underscored the urgent need to combat child exploitation.
“As a nation, we have pledged—morally, legally, and constitutionally—to safeguard childhood as a season for learning, play, and growth, not for exploitation,” Ageng’o said.
The two-day symposium, themed “Elimination of Child Labour and Access to Justice,” brought together a high-profile delegation of judicial leaders, labour experts, civil society representatives, and government officials.
Key attendees included Deputy Chief Justice and Vice President of the Supreme Court Philomena Mwilu, the Principal Secretary for Labour and Social Protection Shadrack Mwadime, Central Organisation of Trade Unions (COTU) Secretary General Francis Atwoli, Law Society of Kenya CEO Florence Muturi, and Federation of Kenya Employers (FKE) CEO Jacqueline Mugo.
Ageng’o commended the Employment and Labour Relations Court for its role in strengthening child protection jurisprudence and called for continued reforms to ensure justice systems are more accessible and child-friendly.
She further emphasised the role of quality education, social protection programmes, and poverty alleviation efforts in breaking the cycle of child labour.
“The true test of our commitment will not be the eloquence of today’s speeches, but the transformation of children’s lives tomorrow,” Ageng’o said, urging coordinated action from all sectors—government, judiciary, employers, unions, religious leaders, civil society, and the media.
Among the key recommendations emerging from ELRASE III were enhanced inter-agency collaboration, increased funding for child protection units, targeted poverty reduction initiatives, and stronger enforcement mechanisms to hold violators accountable.
Now in its third edition, ELRASE has evolved into a premier platform for engagement on employment and labour rights in Kenya.
This year’s forum reinforced a powerful national goal: “Every child out of labour, every child in school.”
