This archive report was first published on 9 December 2019.
Published on December 9, 2019, as the Kenyan government prioritizes education, the prevalence of child labour remains a pressing concern.
Child labour is most prevalent in the agricultural sector, where children are forced to work alongside their parents to make ends meet, often missing out on their education.
While the government has committed to waiving tuition fees, other expenses such as uniforms, books, and levies remain a significant burden for poor families, preventing many children from accessing free education.
Tea farms in the Rift Valley, the fishing industry around Lake Victoria, and the Coast are among the notorious hotspots for child labour, where minors are exploited and paid meagre wages.
Labour officers and inspectors are doing their part to combat the issue, but their efforts are hindered by the sheer scale of the problem, which is likely to worsen as economic difficulties mount.
