Children right advocates now want more efforts put towards fighting exploitative child domestic work.
This follows reports of increased enrollment of children in such hidden ventures, making it difficult to end child labour.
According to the International Labour Organization (ILO), approximately 15 million children globally work as domestic workers.
In Kenya, ILO reports that child domestic work is the second largest cause of child labour after agriculture, with between 250, 000 to 300, 000 children facing long hours, low pay, and the risk of exploitation.
These statistics continue to be reported despite the country having comprehensive laws on child protection.
“We are here to call for action to ensure that laws and policies protecting children are fully implemented so that children can realize their full developmental potential,” said Macrine Otuge from Investing in Children and their Society (ICS).
According to Ms Otuge, Kenya has made huge strides towards ensuring that there are policies in place, but there was need to address the key push factors enabling.
She was speaking in Kisumu on June 12, 2025 during the commemoration of the World Day Against Child Labour organized by the ICS.
Child Labour more than a legal matter
The event presided over by Kisumu Governor Prof Anyang’ Nyong’o brought together stakeholders from the national and county government, the community, survivors of child labour, civic organizations, the media, among others to discuss the trends of hidden child domestic labour.
Prof Nyong’o noted that there is need for concerted efforts to deal with the vice, saying laws alone are not enough.
“Eliminating child labour is not just a legal responsibility, it is a moral and developmental obligation. No economy or society can thrive if its children are trapped in cycles of poverty and exploitation. That is why we must invest more in prevention, education, and family resilience,” said Nyong’o.
He noted that the county has integrated child protection into our County Integrated Development Plan (CIDP) and continue to support County Child Labour Committees to strengthen child protection.
“I reaffirm my administration’s full support for this agenda. We will continue working hand-in-hand with all stakeholders, government, NGOs, faith leaders, and communities to build a country where every child is safe, educated, and empowered to reach their full potential,” he added.
In support of the theme of the day; “Progress is clear, but there’s more to do: let’s speed up efforts”, Ms Otuge said there was need for increased resource allocation towards fighting child labour, as well as escalation of capacity building of communities on protection of children.
Through its project, ‘Not Invisible Anymore’ (NIA) supported by Freedom Fund, Investing in Children and their Society (ICS) has been promoting prevention and response to exploitative child domestic work through interventions at child, household, community, and policy levels.
Through the program, ICS has been empowering child domestic workers, their allies, civic organizations and government institutions to protect children in domestic work from abuse and exploitation.
Kisumu County Coordinator for Children Services Geofrey Musoko noted that there is need to harmonize the various laws on children protection so as to facilitate protection of children rights.
“For example, the Employment Act stipulates that the age of employment is 13 years, as long as that kind of work is not harzardous to the development of the child. The Children’s Act 2022 on the other hand provides that any child should not engage in labour activities before the age of 18 years,” said Musoko.
