Speaking during the commemoration of the Day of the African Child at Approved grounds Kakamega, the stakeholders asked both the National and County government to ensure that children are protected, access uninterrupted education, medication and social welfare.

The County Executive Committee Member for Social services, Youth, Sports, Gender, Culture and Library services Jackline Masicha noted that Kakamega county government has set aside Ksh 8million to support children in the county.

“We are looking at having a children’s rescue center so that the rights of children are protected and also ensure their basic needs are well taken care of,” she added.

The CECM said the county government together with other partners is carrying out enough sensitization to ensure that children in the community are protected from abuses in the homes.

“We are also sensitizing parents to ensure that they are present to take care of their children,” she added.

She decried that the county has begun recording increasing cases of child labor which she warned could affect proper upbringing of children in the society.

The Programme Manager for Women in Water and Natural Resources Conservation(WWANC) Chrispinus Shamwama called for allocation of funds to address all the needs of children in the country like health, education, immunization and others.

“We are simply encouraging and insisting that budgets must capture issues of children,” he added.

He said there is a need for the government to channel funds to strengthen family fabrics like the economic status for the families to be able to take care of their children.

Shamwama also asked for involvement of children when budgeting for their needs.

“Children must also be taught and sensitized about budgeting, let us budget with children let’s not be adults budget for children,” he added.

“Let children bring out their issues, let children bring out their needs so that they know there is something called a budget and that the government plans for them and budgets for them,” he noted.