Stakeholder Validation Workshop: Draft National Policy and Action Plan

Understanding Child Labour in Kenya

A 2018 national survey revealed alarming statistics, estimating that 26% of children aged 14 and below are engaged in child labour, (90%) reside in rural areas, working in various sectors including agriculture, fisheries, domestic work, and miraa production.

Policy Objectives and Strategies

The draft national policy aims to safeguard all children in Kenya from all forms of child labour while promoting their holistic development. The key objectives include promoting decent work for adults and youth, ending child labour in priority sectors, ensuring access to education and training, expanding social protection for affected families, enhancing data management, and fostering partnerships for financing and implementation.

© ILO

© ILO

Priority Strategies in the National Action Plan

To achieve the outlined objectives, the National Action Plan focuses on six priority strategies, including promoting decent work, ending child labour in priority sectors, ensuring access to education, expanding social protection, strengthening data management, and fostering partnerships for financing.

Voices from the Workshop

In his opening remarks, Mr. Gerald Omoke, Director of Administration at the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, emphasized the government's renewed commitment to combating child labour. Mr. Erick Ochieng’, Policy Research and Advocacy Officer at the Federation of Kenya Employers (FKE), expressed employers’ commitment to a coordinated response to child labour challenges.

Data-Informed Policies and Integrated Approaches

Ms. Grace Banya, Chief Technical Advisor for the ILO CAPSA Project, highlighted the importance of integrated data and data-informed policies. She commended the Government efforts towards a Labour Force Survey incorporating a module on child labour and emphasized the need for a whole-of-government approach in resourcing and implementing the national policy.

The stakeholder workshop signifies a crucial step towards refining strategies and policies to effectively combat child labour in Kenya, showcasing a collective commitment towards the well-being of the nation's children.