ILO
INTERNATIONAL LABOUR ORGANISATION
Project to Promote ILO Policy on Indigenous and Tribal peoples Rights (PRO 169)
Final Report
Picture 1 and 2: Turkana Chilren involved in Charcoal burning. Photo credit: Irene Leshore, Samburu Kenya
Review of Existing Child Labour Initiatives, Experiences and Lessons Learned and Strategies for further interventions in selected Pastoralists communities in Kenya
Johnson Ole Kaunga
Laikipia, Kenya
March 2008
Acknowledgements
The study has been successfully conducted over a period of 1 year because of an overwhelming interest and willingness from various stakeholders. I am particularly indebted to the Kenyan indigenous peoples’ communities, their institutions and organisations that continue to struggle for their rightful place within the ever-changing national frameworks that always tend to relegate and make their position overtly precarious in terms of their socio- cultural rights, livelihood and their right to self development and determination, as per their individual and collective aspirations, within the State. The International Labour Organisation, in partnership with indigneosu peoples’ organisations, has done great contribution and work to ameliorate the situation. I am particularly indebted to the PRO 169 team in Geneva; to Ms Brigitte Feiring, Ms Mangeye Terumalai and Ms Francesca Thornberry for their technical advise and administrative support and for demonstrating a clear interest and commitment, over the years, to support and address indigneosu peoples’ concerns given the several limitations. I also would like to thank the ILO International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour (IPEC) team in Nairobi (Ms Grace Banya, CTA, Ms Wangui, Senior Program officer, Mr Paschal Wambiya and Benard Ikiura) for their technical and administrative inputs, support and for allowing me to us their resources.
I would like to thank all of you who lent and shared your time, patience, knowledge, experiences and incisive contributions, which not only shaped and sharpened my understanding on child labour among the indigenous peoples, but went a step further to reflect and confirm your conviction in addressing several issues that continue to marginalize these communities.
To you all, I offer my sincere gratitude and appreciations and I hope that your aspirations in life will come to a reality.
Acronyms and Abbreviations 6
1.0 Executive summary 7
2.0 Rationale and Background to the study 17
2.1 Terms of Reference 18
2.2. Methodology employed by the Study 18
2.3. Selection of study areas 20
2.4. The Process of Data Collection and Information Gathering 20
Chapter 1 23
3.0 Introduction 23
3.1 The Phenomenon of Child Labour in Kenya 24
3.2 Social, Cultural and Gender dimension of child labour 28
Chapter Two 29
4. Major Forms of child Labour faced by Indigenous children 29
4.1. Herding 29
4.2 Indigenous children working in the mining sector 32
4.3 Indigenous children working in the tourism sector 32
4.4 Indigenous children working as domestic workers 32
4.5 Indigenous children working as security guards in urban centers 33
4.6 Indigenous children in prostitution 33
4.7 Children in conflict areas/situation 33
5.0 Major Causes of Child Labour 34
5.1 Lack of relevant and appropriate policies to support pastoralists’ livelihood 34
5.2 Poverty 34
5.3 Natural resource scarcity that is fueling resource based conflicts 35
5.4 Harmful cultural practices 35
5.5 Social disruption of traditional livelihoods 35
5.6 HIV/AIDS 35
Chapter Three 36
6. Profiles and overview of child labour in selected Districts occupied by indigenous peoples in Kenya 36
6.1 Isiolo District 36
Marsabit 41
Samburu 43
Laikipia 45
Tana River 46
Kajiado 46
Chapter four 47
Chapter six 52
8.0 Recommendations and strategies for Interventions 52
7.1 Community Awareness and Capacity Building on Child Labour and its Effects 52
8.2 Lobbying and advocacy 52
8.3 Develop a knowledge based on IPOs(Indiegnous peoples organisations) working on issues of CL (child labour) 53
8.4 Employ a rights-based approach 53
8.5 Unique initiatives need be supported by the ILO, Government and others agencies 53
8.6 Support destitute household to rebuild their livelihood 54
Chapter seven 54
9.0 Main elements, strategies, objectives and activities for a project to address child labour among indigenous peoples in Kenya. 54
9.1 Strategy for interventions 54
ILO International Labour Organisation
CL Child Labour
ITPs Indigenous and Tribal Peoples
IPEC International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour
PHGs Pastoralists and Hunter- Gatherers
CBOs Community Based Organisations
NGOs Non- Governmental Organisation
GoK Government of Kenya
IPOs Indigenous peoples organisations
Share with your friends: |
