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2.3. Selection of study areas


In Kenya, some pastoralists and hunter-gatherers communities have strongly come forward to claim their human rights, fundamental freedoms, right to development and land claims – fronting the identity as “indigenous peoples”. The study areas were selected based on the diversity of these communities, conceptual degree and level of marginalisation and alienation existing among these communities, regional distribution and the differences exhibited by different social groups within the different provinces or even within the same province. This was necessary in order to give a fair picture of the phenomenon of child labour at the national level as far as the pastoralists and hunter-gatherers are concerned and how different is it from the notion of child labour as understood and practiced by mainstream communities in rural areas and in urban areas.
The Districts with high incidence of conflicts were also selected so as to develop a clear linkage and correlation between child labour and conflicts. In this case, Laikipia, Samburu, Isiolo and Marsabit were selected as sample areas.
Based on the above criteria the following districts were selected for an in-depth study, Garissa, Laikipia, Samburu, Tana River, Marsabit and Turkana.

2.4. The Process of Data Collection and Information Gathering



Focus Groups Discussions and interviews

In all the study areas 5 focus group discussions (FGD) were planned, organised and facilitated. The FGDs were organised with different target groups so as to obtain information on their understanding and perception of child labour. The youth, women, urban-based indigenous people, pure pastoralists (wholly dependent on traditional livelihood of keeping livestock) and absentee livestock owners. Each FGD had 20– 25 participants between the age of 17 and 45. In Laikipia, Tana River, Marsabit, Garissa and Isiolo special FGDs were organised with socially discriminated groups seen and taken by mainstream pastoralists as of a lower caste. These social groups hardly talk in an open forum where all groups participate. This is an indication of them being dominated by majority groups and being despised because of their social origin or nature of work. They are blacksmiths who are identified by other pastoralists proper as “dirty, poor, a curse and with no etiquette”. It became important to establish a forum for them and they participated by voicing their concerns.


this social groups hardly talk in an open forum where all groups participate. k owners. nflicts. cies and faith based organisa 2.4.1. Informants interviews


The consultant used the existing contacts at the districts level with indigenous peoples’ organisations to solicit information on programs that are addressing the issue of education and child labour. Although there are few organisations and their information technology is less established in these areas they did, however, made efforts to share the information and experiences that they have accumulated overtime.

2.4.2. Desk reviews

This study benefited from an extensive literature review at the ILO/IPEC offices, ILO and other websites on child labour, resource centers of certain indigneous organisations and Kenya Government publications . The Kenya Central Bureal of Stastics has been undertaking household surveys and the consultant also reviewed this with a view to extracting information on how household-based data reflects on household social well being in reality. The Society for International Development has also been a key player in terms of venturing into research on inequality in Kenya - of which this study has enormously drawn from.

2.4.3. Direct field observations and informal sessions

In some areas, a direct observation approach was employed as it become very difficult and challenging for individual community members to freely share information for fear of being victimised by the administration or because they are themselves offering their children to labour instead of enrolling them in schools. This particular strategy was employed in communities living on the edge of renowned tourist destinations such Talek, Sekenani, Archers Post bordering the Maasai Mara and the Samburu Game Reserve and also in Maralal, Merille, Laisamis, Ngaremara, Isiolo where sexual exploitation of children is known to take place. The communities contacted found it to be of great shame to be associated with such vices and would not want to divulge the information. 2.4.4. Study check lists

The resource person visited selected districts and held dicussions with indviduals, organisaiton and segments of the communities living in diffeent areas, with a view to assess on- going or phased-out education and child labour interventions. The consultations were designed to be interactive and responsive to the overall objective of the study and were intended to help understand the situation and circumstances that motivate child labour among indigenous peoples in Kenya. The element of time dictated which organisations and communities to be visited. Samburu District was visited on request from the ILO/IPEC on the basis that it is one of the TBP10 action District. ILO/IPEC wanted some basic information and thoughts before beginning their TBP interventions in Samburu.

2.5.2. Challenges and limitations of the study

On the whole, there was a time constraint and as such, there were very limited community consultations and where the visits were undertaken, they were not adequate as not all communities were visited. There was a strong bias towards communities living close to the road.



The study came at a time when the ILO/IPEC staffs were pretty busy and they felt that the study was an additional workload that was not included in their rolling annual work plans. While they endeavored to assist, it was obvious that they had divided attention. The reluctance to apply or use the term “indigenous peoples” is also not just for the government as widely believed, but also within the ILO.
Generally, there are considerable research efforts and work committed to child labour in Kenya, but there is very limited information on pastoralists and actually none on hunter-gatherers. In some reports, nomadic communities are just mentioned.




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