A U.S. Report Reveal Kenya Engaging In Crude Child Labor With Skyrocketing Child Prostitution and Pornography

A report commissioned by The US’ Department of Labor on Kenya has revealed some disturbing statistics, the annual Findings on the Worst Forms of Child Labor focuses on the efforts of certain U.S. trade beneficiary countries and territories to eliminate the worst forms of child labor through legislation, enforcement mechanisms, policies and social programs.

The Report serves as a resource to foreign governments, NGOs, academics and policymakers working on labor and human rights issues.

The report has established that Kenya has made a minimal advancement in efforts to eliminate the worst forms of child labor. The Government continues to expand social cash transfers to additional households as part of its National Safety Net Program for Results and implemented and participated in several programs to combat the worst forms of child labor. However, the report finds that children in Kenya are engaged in the worst forms of child labor, including in sand harvesting and commercial sexual exploitation.

Kenya has yet to ratify the UN CRC Optional Protocol on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution, and Child Pornography and its minimum age for work law and compulsory education age are not harmonized due to the lack of a particular compulsory education age. The Government has also not committed sufficient resources to enforcement efforts.

The report notes the commercial sexual exploitation of children,sometimes as a result of internal human trafficking, which is apparently dine by relatives and friends.

Sexual exploitation of children the report indicates is a major problem in Kenya, especially in Eldoret, Kisumu, Nairobi, Nyeri, and in coastal areas. The majority of children engaged in commercial sexual exploitation are girls, but boys are also involved.

Coming at a time when paedophilia cases have been increasing with latest being one Alfayo who bragged on the internet for sleeping with a small girl amongst many other reported and unreported cases of sodomy and rape. Several interventions have been given in the report for the government in ensuring safety and protecting the children.