This archive report was first published on 8 July 2020.
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to ravage the world, children in Kisumu County are bearing the brunt of the economic hardship. Many have been forced to drop out of school and take up jobs to help their families make ends meet.
According to a spot-check by The Standard, several school-going children have been thronging the streets to sell boiled maize, detergents, vegetables, and masks. The children, some as young as 10 years old, are hawking their wares from as early as 8am, with some working till late in the evening.
One such child is Mary, a 10-year-old Standard Four pupil from Nyalenda slum. She claims to have been doing this job since schools were closed due to the pandemic. Mary's father is a boda boda operator, and her mother used to clean homes for pay, but with the new normal, their income has become too little to support the family of five.
Another child, Jane, a 13-year-old Standard Seven pupil from Kajulu in Kisumu East, has also been engaged in the trade for the last three months. She says her parents are peasants and have many mouths to feed, which is why she has been brought in to help put food on the table.
When The Standard visited River Kibos, Peter, a 16-year-old Second Former, was busy harvesting sand. He claims to be able to get five tonnes of sand in one week, which they sell for Sh1,600 and share the amount.
According to Peter, the long stay at home pushed them into the business to earn some money which he uses for his needs and the family's. His parents have been doing some businesses within Kibos Market, but have been affected by Covid-19.
County Children Coordinator Humphrey Wandeo said his office is worried by the trend of children being on the streets, but noted that there is little his office can do without the support of parents. He added that his office has no official records of children engaging in dangerous economic activities.
He challenged parents to ensure that they care for their children and ensure their safety during this period. 'We have witnessed some of these children in the streets without masks, and in dangerous places, but how many will you arrest?' he posed.
