CAP. 141 Children [Rev. 2012] (4) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (3), the Director shall have power to— (a) appoint and supervise approved officers and foster parents; (b) call for information from any individual or institution for the purpose of safeguarding the interests of children in accordance with this Act; (c) take over arrangements of proceedings before any public institution or court, involving children, being conducted by a different person as may be authorised under the law. 39. Penalty for obstruction A person who obstructs the Director or a children’s officer in the execution of his duties or powers under this Act commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding one hundred thousand shillings, or to imprisonment for a term of twelve months in default, or to both. The Role of Local Authorities 40. The role of local authorities It shall be the general duty of every local authority— (a) to safeguard and promote the rights and welfare of children within its jurisdiction; (b) to promote the good up-bringing of children by their families, through the establishment of suitable family-oriented programmes, and through the creation of a department to deal with the rights and welfare of children, public awareness and the co-ordination of relevant programme support initiatives from different social sub-sectors. 41. Appointed local authorities The Director may from time to time, appoint a local authority for the purposes of this Act and a local authority so appointed shall, subject to the provisions of section 43, perform the duties imposed and have the powers conferred upon appointed local authorities under this Act. 42. Local authority welfare schemes A local authority either by itself or jointly with other local authorities shall make welfare schemes for children embracing any or all of the items set out in the Second Schedule to this Act and the Director may by order appoint such local authority or joint local authorities to be an appointed local authority for the purposes and to the extent set out in such schemes. 43. Delegation of powers and duties by appointed local authorities (1) Where any powers or duties are by this Act conferred or imposed on an appointed local authority, those powers and duties shall— (a) in the case of a child who has his home in a municipality or within a township, be powers and duties of the municipal council; (b) in a county outside a municipality or township, the powers and duties of the county council. [Issue 1] C15 - 26