Kenya's Children, Global Chains: Why Child Labour is Closer Than You Think
Author: Mary Musau
Introduction
Driving through the busy streets of Nairobi, it was not uncommon to see children weaving through traffic, tiny hands knocking on windows selling bottled water, snacks, or simply asking for change. In the markets, many shouldered heavy loads twice their size, working long hours under harsh conditions. This wasn’t unusual. In fact, it felt normal. It was part of the everyday rhythm of life in Kenya and in many parts of the continent.
Now, as an adult with a deeper understanding of justice and inequality, and as a parent, it feels different. With time, education, and professional experience in human rights and ethical supply chains, I've come to see these moments for what they truly are; symptoms of a much deeper, systemic issue. Child Labour is not just a local challenge, it is a global one, shaped by poverty, limited access to education and services, and the demands of global markets.
As consumers and business leaders, we are not disconnected from these realities. The choices we make, what we buy, where we source our goods, and how we build our supply chains, can either reinforce cycles of exploitation or become part of the solution.
This blog blends personal reflection with global context to highlight why Child Labour, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa, demands urgent attention. My hope is to not only raise awareness but also inspire meaningful action, from responsible sourcing practices to greater transparency and due diligence in business operations. Because Child Labour is not just a problem "over there." It’s closer than we think, and we all have a role to play in addressing it.
Root Causes in Kenya and the Global South
“Nearly 138 million children – 59 million girls and 78 million boys – are in child labour, accounting for almost 8 per cent of all children globally” - ILO Child Labour Global Estimates 2024
Having grown up in Kenya and worked across diverse regions of the continent, both rural and urban, I’ve witnessed just how normalised Child Labour has become. It’s common to see children assisting on family farms, selling goods in kiosks, fishing, or herding livestock as part of daily life. It's important to distinguish, however, that the Child Labour being discussed here is not the age-appropriate tasks assigned to children around the world, such as household chores or light, supervised work that contributes to a child’s development. Rather, we’re referring to labour that is exploitative, hazardous, or interferes with a child’s right to education and a safe, healthy childhood.
In many communities, these forms of labour are often justified by long-standing cultural beliefs, that hard work builds character, and that every family member must contribute to the household’s survival. Respect for elders, a deeply held cultural value, can further discourage children from questioning or resisting roles that in reality may be exploitative.
This dynamic is deeply rooted and spans generations. My own family shares stories of how, as children, they worked on my grandparents’ farm—after school, on weekends, and during school holidays. The labour was physically demanding, it included tilling the land, harvesting crops, and hauling heavy loads. It wasn’t optional; it was essential for the family’s survival. Their efforts helped cover basic needs, including school fees. They often reflect on how fortunate they were to have balanced both work and education, because many of their peers were not as lucky. For them, schooling was never an option. Childhood was defined entirely by labour.
The nature of this work also reflects the informal structure of Child Labour. The ILO Child Labour Global Estimates (2024) note that while nearly half of all working-age adults are employed in the services sector, only about 25% of Child Labour occurs there. Similarly, while 28% of adults work in agriculture, a staggering 61% of Child Labourers are concentrated in that sector. These disparities are not coincidental, they highlight how Child Labour is often more informal, invisible, and tied to family-based economic activity, making it harder to regulate or even recognise.
Without legal safeguards or access to education, these children are excluded from the very systems designed to protect their rights and future. As the ILO emphasises, Child Labour is not just a violation of individual dignity, it is a systemic failure that robs children of their potential and reinforces generational cycles of poverty.
A Global Supply Chain Issue
Deva and Anand (2023) show that while international supply chains can bring economic opportunities to developing countries, they also expose workers, especially those in the most vulnerable communities to exploitation; children are often the most affected.
The relentless prioritisation of profit over people, risk exportation, legal evasion combined with unchecked overconsumption, deep power imbalances, and weak institutional safeguards, creates a system in which the most disadvantaged are pushed into sending their children into the workforce (Deva and Anand, 2023). For families living on the brink, sending a child to work is often a desperate decision made for survival.
While global supply chains drive economic growth, they must also be held accountable for the conditions they create and sustain. Without meaningful oversight, the products we consume; whether it’s coffee, cocoa, clothing, or electronics, may carry the hidden cost of Child Labour.
Why It’s Not Just “Over There”
A child harvesting avocados in Western Kenya. Another picking tea or coffee on plantations in Central Kenya. These products don’t just stay local; they travel across continents, landing on grocery store shelves in the U.S., the U.K., and other global markets. What we buy, eat, and wear connects us directly to the realities facing children in the Global South.
This interconnectedness means that companies have a responsibility to conduct robust human rights due diligence, ensuring that the raw materials and labour behind their products are free from exploitation and abuse. “Do no harm” must be more than a slogan; it must be an operational standard embedded in every layer of the supply chain.
Consumers, too, have a role to play. By asking the right questions, demanding transparency, and supporting brands that meaningfully prioritise ethics in their practices, we help drive accountability and change.
Child Labour is not a moral failure of low-income countries. It is a consequence of global economic systems that prioritise profit over people and trade frameworks that too often leave the most vulnerable behind.
References:
Surya Deva and Pushkar Anand ‘A global South Perspective on Labour Rights and Supply Chains for a Post-Growth World’ 2023
ILO Child Labour Global Estimates 2024 “ Trends and The Road Forward”