Early marriage, lack of basic needs highlighted as Kenya marks Day of the African Child

Every year, on June 16, Kenya joins the rest of the continent in marking the Day of the African Child, and this year was no different.

However, the Thursday celebrations this time came with the realization that a lot more still needs to be done in terms of empowering families to enable them meet the needs of their children.

Child labour, early marriages, lack of basic needs like shelter, clothing and food as well as good education are some of the challenges identified as still facing the African child.

Real estate firms Finsco Africa and Heri Homes commemorated the day at Mutundu Primary School located in Juja, within Riverline Ridges in Kiambu, where children showcased their talents in poetry, music, and artistry.

Speaking at the event, Finsco Consulting Africa Chief Executive John Mwaura called upon the government to accelerate the free primary education policy to local villages in rural areas so that majority of the schools can access and get better learning facilities.

Mr. Mwaura also urged Kenyans to become their neighbour’s keeper, calling for the implementation of the Nyumba Kumi initiative in the localities to enable people to live at peace with each other.

This, the Finsco boss opined, may also enable the society as well as the local administrators to mould the children into responsible members, hence weeding out the possibility of them involving themselves in crime down the road.

“Let parents take initiatives of helping teachers alleviate vices like alcohol abuse and drug and substances abuse so that we all can nurture a conductive environment where children will access basic commodities,” said Mr. Mwaura.

“If you give someone hope, you have helped that person. That’s why we’re here in this school; to give these kids hope.”

His sentiments were echoed by his Heri Homes CEO Kimotho Kimani who challenged well-wishers to always supplement government efforts in empowering the African child for the greater good of all.

“For a very long time, the African child has generally been misused, that’s why instead of being supported to go to school you find things like child labour which has affected them,” said Mr. Kimani.

“So we’re here to support the African child in terms of education, like this school has very few classes and dilapidated, so we will support such initiatives, and more local libraries should also be built.”