Give refuge to these Turkana child labourers

A "very disappointed" Mr Jimmy L Miramoe notes that the irony of Kakuma Refugee Camp in Turkana is that NGOs, education officials and the Provincial Administration have for years ignored child labour involving minors from the host community. He wonders why refugees are allowed to employ children.

"It is sad that parents have turned their children, who are supposed to be in school, into casual labourers in the refugee camp. The only explanation is that the children are an important source of income for poor families," says Miramoe.

But, he adds, this will fuel the cycle of poverty in Turkana as education may be the only way to empower the community.

"Early every morning a mass of children can be seen crossing Kakuma bridge on the way to the camp to work as casual labourers. Sadly, they are paid less than Sh30 a day and perhaps half a kilogramme of maize flour. This really hurts," says Miramoe.

Unless Turkana children do not have rights, he suggests that parents, guardians, employers and officials who allow child labour should be arrested and prosecuted.

"We must stop killing these children’s future," he says.