NAIVASHA, Kenya – The International Labour Organisation (ILO) is intensifying its efforts to combat child labour and sexual exploitation in Kenya by partnering with five county governments. These regions, including Kajiado, Nairobi, Bungoma, Mombasa, and Kwale, have experienced a significant rise in such cases, prompting urgent action.
According to Kenya News Agency, ILO Programme Manager, the organization has identified specific challenges in each county. Coastal counties like Kwale and Mombasa are grappling with children forced into commercial sexual exploitation, pimping businesses, and early marriages. In contrast, agriculturally rich counties like Bungoma face child exploitation in sectors like quarrying and tea harvesting, which has led to increased school dropout rates.
The ILO’s strategy involves working closely with these counties to implement effective interventions. This includes influencing the enactment and enforcement of child protection laws, advocating for changes in county budgetary allocations, and ensuring effective measures to end child labour and sexual exploitation. Banya emphasized that these actions are crucial for achieving Sustainable Development Goal target 8, which focuses on eradicating child labour and sexual exploitation.
Andrew Odete, ILO Engagement and Partnerships Officer, highlighted that child labour in Kenya is predominantly driven by the agricultural sector and harmful cultural practices like Female Genital Mutilation and early marriages. The ILO is supporting the enrichment of child protection laws, policy agendas, and sensitization programs in the counties. These efforts are complemented by the establishment of County Child Labour Advisory Councils to enhance rescue missions for victims.
Further, the ILO, in collaboration with the Ministry of Labour and the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics, is conducting a national survey on child labour. This initiative aims to gain a comprehensive understanding of the issue across the country, leading to more effective, data-driven interventions and policies to address and ultimately eradicate this critical problem.