Local authorities in Kwale County have raised concerns over a rising trend of child labour, which is being blamed on irresponsible parenting.
County Children’s Officer Zaphania Apoko reported that severe child neglect has led to many school-age children being employed as herders, housemaids, miners and in other labour-intensive work.
He noted that the problem appears particularly prevalent in the Lunga-Lunga Sub-county.
“In Lunga-Lunga you will find many children don’t go to school but are hired to herd livestock,” he said, saying this is a way of denying them their rights and exposing them to various forms of abuse and exploitation.
He called on the community to prioritize the welfare and education of children, urging them to report cases of child labour to the authorities.
The officer said that poverty and lack of access to basic needs in remote villages in Lunga-Lunga, Samburu and Kinango often drive families to push children to work for survival, caling for greater support from both the county government and non-governmental organizations to address the root causes.
Apoko promised a crackdown on individuals and businesses hiring children, warning that anyone found exploiting children will face prosecution as the vice is a serious criminal offence under Kenyan law.
Apoko also urged the public to actively participate in safeguarding children’s rights by reporting any suspected cases of child exploitation to the relevant authorities.
“Every child deserves a chance to learn, grow and build a better future and so we need a concerted effort to eradicate child labour and promote education,” he said.
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Social Services and Talent Management Chief Officer Riziki Mwasoza also expressed her deep concern over the increasing incidents of child labour.
She highlighted the alarming trend of hiring school-age girls as housemaids, often under poor working conditions and for meagre wages.
The Chief Officer noted that in ocean-dependent communities, it is common for children to be tasked with fishing, preparing boats, and sometimes even caring for younger siblings while their parents are out at sea.
She said the practice, while rooted in cultural traditions, places huge responsibilities on children that can interfere with their education and development.
Mwasoza stressed that child labour often distracts the children’s ability to attend school and engage in age-appropriate activities, leading to a cycle of missed educational opportunities.
She strongly condemned the vice and said that child exploitation not only undermines the children’s right to education but also perpetuates a cycle of poverty and dependency.
She urged parents to recognize the importance of education and the detrimental effects of child labour on their children’s future.
Furthermore, Mwasoza called for a collaborative effort between government agencies, community leaders, and non-governmental organizations to combat it.
She stressed the need for public awareness campaigns to inform families about the negative impact of child labour and the available resources to support children’s education.
Mwasoza also noted that other forms of child exploitation, such as sexual exploitation, are prevalent in the area, acknowledging the alarming reality that many children are vulnerable to such abuses, which can have devastating effects on their physical and emotional well-being.
She said both the county and national governments, in collaboration with various stakeholders, have developed effective mechanisms to combat child exploitation and safeguard children’s rights.
She revealed that they are currently drafting a comprehensive children’s protection policy aimed at strengthening the framework for child protection in the region.
“This anticipated policy is distinct from the previously approved Gender Act that applies to all individuals as the new policy is specifically designed for children under 18 years of age,” she said.
She revealed that the policy will empower the county to establish safe houses for vulnerable children and lead targeted advocacy programmes focussed exclusively on child protection.
Mwasoza said that the new policy would address various forms of exploitation, including labour and sexual abuse while promoting access to education and essential services.
By Shaban Omar
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