A child protection needs assessment by Joining Forces has revealed the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on poor families in Kenya.
The social and economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic have pushed children into dangerous and exploitative work to help their families survive especially during the period which schools were closed. The poorest are the hardest hit by the pandemic- particularly those working in the informal economy, like many families in the informal settlements of Nairobi. A child protection needs assessment carried out by the Joining Forces alliance in Kenya in November of 2020 revealed the immense pressures faced by poor families in Kenya during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Recruitment into criminal gangs and sexual exploitation
The assessment team heard first hand from children living in the Korogocho, Mathare and Kibra informal settlements how many of their peers had been recruited by criminal gangs as drug runners or petty thieves. School closures, the forced suspension of any organized social or sporting activities and economic pressures at home meant the phrase “the devil finds work for idle hands” becomes a reality for many Kenyan children.
Families who have lost their income due to the pandemic are reportedly taking along their children to work as casual labours while in some cases sending their children off to work by themselves, and girls are forced into being sexually exploited in exchange for money, goods, or benefits.
Violence in the home
To make matters worse, children are faced with violence and increased pressure at home, as the stress of unemployment, the threat of disease and uncertainty caused by the pandemic led to increases in child abuse by parents. Some 60% of children surveyed said that physical violence had increased since the start of the pandemic, whilst emotional violence and psychological distress had also increased in both parents and children.
“I have grandchildren who no longer want to listen to me, they have become so demanding, I am very worried and they’re stressing me a lot. The one in form two, I found her with a phone and I don’t know where she got it from, I took that phone, and beat her up and she ran away and went to live with the boyfriend, I now don’t know what to do and I am scared she may never return and go back to school”
Grandmother, Mathare slums, Kenya
Dangerous work and child marriage
In rural areas, due to school closures and economic stress on families, children are increasingly being asked to work in dangerous agricultural work and other hazardous employment such as preparing and selling alcohol. In Busia county, 58% of children reported a high incidence of child labour since the pandemic began. Child marriage is on the rise in rural areas such as Bungoma county, where over 20% of children reported increased incidence.
A challenging road ahead
Whilst the government is trying to respond to the economic shocks of the pandemic, with various social protection programmes being implemented across the country, coverage is limited and many families are missing out. Parents and children are suffering from the disruption to their social support networks, children have not been able to see friends or play sports – simple pleasures that are crucial to their mental health. Support to parents is needed to help them manage their stress, and to empower them to better support their children during these difficult times.
We know from previous crises such as the Ebola epidemic in West Africa that the negative impacts of such events are potentially long lasting. Girls in particular find it difficult to return to school after prolonged absences – a situation exacerbated by the increases in child marriage. With schools now reopening in Kenya, it is crucial that as many children as possible are supported to return safely, to regain the vital education and social and emotional learning provided by schools.
We need to listen to children and hear directly from them about their needs and concerns. Existing mechanisms for children to express themselves and their opinions to decision makers have been limited due to the pandemic, challenging us to find new ways to hear their voices.
Kenya is one of five countries where the Joining Forces for Africa project is working to reduce violence faced by children.