Child Labor and Forced Labor Reports

Kenya

Cattle
Cattle
Child Labor Icon
Coffee
Coffee
Child Labor Icon
Fish
Fish
Child Labor Icon
Gold
Gold
Child Labor Icon
Khat/Miraa (stimulant plant)
Khat/Miraa (stimulant plant)
Child Labor Icon
Rice
Rice
Child Labor Icon
Sand
Sand
Child Labor Icon
Sisal
Sisal
Child Labor Icon
Sugarcane
Sugarcane
Child Labor Icon
Tea
Tea
Child Labor Icon
Tobacco
Tobacco
Child Labor Icon
Kenya
2022 Findings on the Worst Forms of Child Labor:

Minimal Advancement – Efforts Made but Continued Practice that Delayed Advancement

In 2022, Kenya made minimal advancement in efforts to eliminate the worst forms of child labor. The government enacted the Children's Act, strengthening legal protections for children from child labor, including mandating the development of a light work framework, and outlining child protection mandates of government agencies, such as protecting children from armed conflict. In addition, the government substantially increased the number of worksite inspections for the reporting period, while achieving convictions and imposing sentences on two individuals for crimes related to human trafficking of children. However, despite new initiatives to address child labor, Kenya is assessed as having made only minimal advancement because it continued a practice that delays advancement to eliminate child labor. Elements within the Kenyan Defense Forces likely sustained in-kind support of a Somali federal member state group that has been implicated in the recruitment and use of child soldiers. Children in Kenya are subjected to the worst forms of child labor, including in commercial sexual exploitation, sometimes as a result of human trafficking, and forced domestic service. Children also perform dangerous tasks in agriculture. Key coordinating committees related to the elimination of child labor lack adequate resources to carry out their mandates, and the labor inspectorate does not have sufficient financial and human resources, affecting its ability to ensure that child labor laws are enforced.

Want this report plus over a thousand pages of research in the palm of
your hand? Download ILAB's Sweat & Toil App today!