1 million Kenyans are child laborers

The number of children in the labour market remains unacceptably high despite a 55 percent decline by end of last year, according to a new government survey.

A report by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics released on Tuesday indicated that there were one million child workers by end of 2008, down from 1.9 million in 1999.

It stated that 800,000 of these children in the child labour market were found in the worst forms of employment like sexual exploitation.

“The problem with this Ministry (Labour) is that it doesn’t have enough resources, it doesn’t have enough officers so we can’t reach out,” stated Labour Minister John Munyes.

“That is a matter I have raised with Cabinet. We are now undertaking the labour reforms and we can’t operate without money,” he added.

Mr Munyes said although the free primary education programme was a major contributor to the decline, there were still one million children out of school, who remained vulnerable to joining the labour market.

The Minister said a four-year project dubbed ‘The time bound Project of Support’ due to come to a close in April this year had enabled the government to fulfill its obligations on the eradication of worst forms of child labour.

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Information gathered from Capital News

Photo from Shonda.org

By Catherine Karong’o


Prepping for March 16 Event

We have been diligently working to make our upcoming event on March 16 in Los Angeles a huge success! Eva Longoria Parker will host the event along with Herb Scannell, Lisa and Mike O’Malley, Ellen Goldsmith Vein and Jon Vein, Kimberly and Jim Caccavo, and Susan MacLaury and Albie Hecht.

We are thrilled to be raising funds for THE HARVEST at Beso in Hollywood. Beso is co-owned by Eva Longoria Parker and Chef Todd English. It will certainly be a night to remember and an important opportunity for us to raise awareness about child farm workers and their lack of legal protections.

If you are interested in attending or learning more about the event, please contact us.