Nairobi County Government in partnership with the Terre des Hommes Netherlands (TdH-NL), a Dutch NGO will set up a rehabilitation centre for child trafficking survivors in Kibera .
Speaking in Kamkunji grounds Thursday, Nairobi County Public Service Management Chief Officer Leboo ole Morintat said Kenya is still a source of child labour, commercial sexual exploitation, sexual violence and child trafficking hence the need to provide awareness to curb child trafficking.
Moritat cited lack of proper parental guidance, children being orphaned and poverty as the major causes of child trafficking in the country.
The chairperson of the Advisory Committee on Child Trafficking in Kenya Ruth Nyambura said children aged between 10 to 14 years are being exploited for cheap labour while expectant mothers were making deals on how to sell their babies after delivery.
“The most vulnerable to trafficking are children living in extreme poverty, those orphaned, the homeless youths and refugees,” she said.
Nyambura urged teachers and religious leaders to offer training sessions on child abuse and provide awareness to alleviate the vice.
The Kenya Terre des Hommes Netherlands country manager Angela Nyamu said economic migration is largely accepted in the Kenyan society, as it is seen as a way out for children from poor backgrounds.
“The risk of trafficking and exploitation is real in this widely acceptable scenario,” said Nyamu.