Addressing Child Labour in Mombasa: Stakeholders’ chart a way forward

The International Labour Organization (ILO) partnered with the Mombasa County Government to address the critical issue of child labour in Mombasa County. At the three days stakeholders' consultation meeting, which span from 26th - 28th February 2024, marked a significant step towards combating child labour, forced labour, and human trafficking in Mombasa.

Mombasa's Proactive Approach to Fighting Child Labour

Grace Banya, ILO CAPSA Project Manager, commended Mombasa County’s proactive efforts to fight child labour by passing a motion at the County government Assembly, the first of its kind in Kenya. The motion that aims at zero tolerance to child labour will be anchored in the Mombasa Child Labour Policy which is under development. Banya emphasized that Mombasa County has demonstrated a high level of commitment to fight child labour and will trail blaze the neighbouring counties in the greater coastal region and spur other counties including Kwale, Malindi and Kilifi to follow suit.

Identifying Forms and Drivers of Child Labour

The consultation began with a comprehensive analysis of the forms and drivers of child labour in Mombasa. It was concluded that cultural and traditional practices, exacerbated by widespread poverty, were significant contributors to the prevalence of child labour. The economic strain, compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic, has further exacerbated the situation.

Global Statistics on Child Labour

Statistics from the 2022 child labour report by ILO and UNICEF painted a stark picture, with approximately 160 million children globally falling victim to child labour. Sub-Saharan Africa, with 92.2 million child labourers, faces a significant challenge, predominantly affecting boys.

Gabriel Kitili, Mombasa County Coordinator for Children Services, underscored the severity of the issue, pointing out that an estimated 5,000 child labour cases are reported annually in Mombasa. He highlighted two prevalent forms of child labour: begging and the sale of groundnuts ('njugu'). “We are working with the county government via a committee that is looking at how we can address the issue of street families in Mombasa County,” said Kitili

Data-Driven Solutions

During the discussions with the partners, Banya informed the meeting about the ongoing efforts to conduct a national child labour survey to gather valid and timely data on a sustainable basis to improve decision making in the fight against child labour. in Kenya.

Emerging Threats: Online Exploitation and Child Trafficking

The meeting also addressed emerging threats, including online exploitation and child trafficking. Perpetrators are increasingly exploiting children in virtual spaces, while trafficking schemes often disguise exploitation as employment opportunities for young women.

Kenya has implemented various measures to combat child labour, including bilateral labour agreements with receiving countries, pre-departure training programs for workers destined especially for the Gulf countries, as well as support programs for workers while in the destination countries. These initiatives aim to safeguard workers, especially domestic workers from falling victim to exploitation and trafficking.

Call to Action

The consultation concluded with a call to action, emphasizing the importance of collaboration between stakeholders at all levels to effectively combat child labour. The commitment to the call to action underscores the collective effort to create a safer and more equitable environment for children in Mombasa and beyond.

We shall continue to mobilize all partners and stakeholders to further strengthen the partners in Mombasa to create a safer and more equitable environment for children in the county through the ILO CAPSA project.