Child Labour and Forced Labour
Kenya marks world day against child labour with nationwide awareness campaigns and community action
12 June 2025
Nairobi, Kenya (ILO News) - The commemorations, spearheaded by the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection in partnership with the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the county government, brought together government representatives, workers and employers, civil society, youth groups, and international partners to shine a spotlight on the continuing challenge of child labour in Kenya.
This year’s held urgency, coinciding with the release of new global estimates by ILO and UNICEF. The data reveal a troubling rise in child labour globally, reversing two decades of progress. The report shows that nearly 138 million children remain in child labour worldwide a decline from the 160 million recorded in 2020. Despite the global decrease, sub‑Saharan Africa continues to bear the heaviest burden. Although the region’s absolute numbers remain high, recent trends show a slight decline in prevalence rates a small but meaningful sign of progress.
In Kenya, child labour continues to persist in sectors such as agriculture, domestic work, street vending, and informal mining driven by poverty, limited access to education, and weak enforcement of and labour inspection laws. The week of action aimed to raise public awareness, showcase effective interventions, and rally national and grassroots actors to protect children's rights.
A week of action across counties
Between 9 and 13 June 2025, four counties Kisii, Meru, Kericho, and Nyeri held a series of coordinated events to mark the World Day Against Child Labour, highlighting both progresses made and the challenges that remain. The week began on 9 June in Kisii, where a local TV station aired a morning show discussing the importance of the day and local efforts to combat child labour. In Meru County, stakeholders convened for a forum and pledged stronger partnerships to address child labour, particularly in the tea, coffee, and miraa sectors. On 10 June, Kericho County hosted a televised discussion featuring key leaders including the County Executive for Education, the Director of TVET, and a workers' union representative followed by a sensitization workshop reviewing achievements and gaps. Nyeri County also held a media dialogue on child labour trends and intervention efforts.
On 11 June, targeted media campaigns ramped up awareness through live interviews with child protection advocates, media roundtables, mobile roadshows in rural hotspots, and community theatre performances. These efforts aimed to inform the public about the root causes of child labour and the ongoing work to eliminate it.
The week culminated on 12 June with vibrant public commemorations in all four counties. Schoolchildren led parades and delivered powerful messages through poems, songs, and plays calling for an end to child labour. The events brought together children, parents, government officials, civil society actors, employers, and workers in a united call to intensify collaborative efforts to eradicate child labour in Kenya’s agricultural value chains.
‘This year’s theme reminds us that while we have made meaningful progress, the journey toward a world free of child labour is far from over. The harsh reality is that millions of children around the world are still being denied their right to a safe, healthy, and joyful childhood. They are working in farms, factories, households, and mines missing out on education, food security, and the simple joys every child deserves’ -Godsan Alfred, from Iterio Comprehensives school.
National commitment and global solidarity
A national-level ceremony is scheduled for 17 July 2025 in Mombasa, bringing together high-level policymakers, trade union leaders, employer groups, and youth representatives. The event included a dialogue on Kenya’s progress toward Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 8.7, which aims to end child labour in all its forms by 2025.
These activities also aim to elevate Kenya’s leadership within the region as countries prepare for the 2026 Global Conference on the Elimination of Child Labour. By highlighting what works youth advocacy, legal enforcement, and multi-stakeholder collaboration Kenya’s actions this week serve as a rallying cry for others to follow suit.
As the theme reminds us: Progress is clear, but there’s more to do. And in Kenya, that momentum is growing stronger by the day.