AbleCommerce Shopping Cart Software

I am using Kit product: "Product_1" which has 1 component "component_1"

component_1 uses a variant called colour (red, green)

When i add component_1 to product_1 there is validation that requires that i choose a colour

ie the user can no longer select the colour.

You have to add each one as a option in the kit.

Yes, you have to add one item per varient to the component.
Like product_1(red) , product_1(green).