Deputy Chief Justice (DCJ) Philomena Mwilu has called for urgent efforts to eliminate child labour in Kenya. She also stressed the need to strengthen access to justice for children.
Her remarks came during the closing of the Third Annual Employment and Labour Relations Court Symposium and Exhibition (ELRASE3) at Strathmore University. The event focused on “Elimination of Child Labour and Access to Justice.”
Judicial Role in Protecting Children
DCJ Mwilu urged judges and magistrates to ensure that legal provisions translate into real change for children.
“Every judgment we deliver, every case involving a child, is an opportunity to tilt the scales of justice towards societal transformation,” she said.
She described child labour as both a legal issue and a matter of social justice. She emphasized that protecting children is about restoring dignity, ensuring safety, and giving every child the chance to learn and grow.
ELRASE: A Platform for Action
DCJ Mwilu praised ELRASE for providing a platform for learning, reflection, and action. She highlighted the risks faced by children in displacement situations and urged collective efforts to protect them.
Justice Byram Ongaya, Principal Judge of the Employment and Labour Relations Court, added that children must be recognized as rights holders. He called for removing barriers such as costs, distance, language, and fear of retaliation. Remedies should protect children’s dignity and end harmful labour practices.
Commitment to Child Protection
ELRASE3 brought together judges, lawyers, academics, and stakeholders to discuss labour law issues. This year, the focus on child labour reinforced the urgency of protecting children’s rights.
“No child should work when they should be learning; no child should suffer when they should be safe; no child should be invisible when they should be heard,” DCJ Mwilu concluded.
