ADVERT 
ADVERTEmployers exploiting children in Siaya County’s artisanal gold mines and motorcycle taxi (boda boda) sector are facing an intensified government crackdown, with chiefs and labour officials ordered to conduct surprise inspections and bring suspected offenders to justice.
Siaya County Commissioner Norbert Komora has directed national government administrative officers and labour officials to step up enforcement against child labour, warning that business owners and operators who engage children in hazardous work will face arrest and prosecution.
The directive, reported by the Kenya News Agency (KNA) on October 28, 2026, places artisanal mining sites and boda boda stages under heightened scrutiny as authorities seek to curb child exploitation and school dropouts.
Komora’s order signals a tougher approach to a problem that pits the economic pressures facing vulnerable households against the legal and moral obligation to protect children from dangerous work and ensure they receive an education.
“In as much as we encourage people to search for a livelihood through artisanal mining, the utilization of child labour is against the laws of our land,” Komora said, stressing that children should be in school rather than exposed to hazardous working environments.
ADVERTBoro, Ramba mining sites under scrutiny
The enforcement drive follows concerns over children working alongside adults at artisanal gold-mining sites in Siaya, including areas around Boro and Ramba, where previous surprise inspections reportedly revealed minors operating in dangerous conditions.
Artisanal mining remains an important source of livelihood for some households in the county. However, the presence of children in mining pits raises serious concerns about their safety, physical development and access to education.
Mining can expose children to collapsing pits, unstable ground, heavy equipment and other hazards. The risks become particularly acute in underground workings, where accidents can have fatal consequences.
The latest crackdown comes amid wider concerns about mining safety in Siaya. On October 12, 2026, County Inspector of Mines Tikani Morris warned artisanal miners against underground operations ahead of anticipated heavy rains, citing the danger of waterlogged soils and mine collapses.
Authorities are therefore confronting two connected challenges: protecting workers from unsafe mining conditions and ensuring that children are not drawn into hazardous labour in the first place.
Boda boda sector also in the spotlight
Komora’s directive extends beyond mining to motorcycle taxi stages, where officials have raised concerns about school-age children abandoning education to operate commercial motorcycles.
The concern is particularly significant for learners transitioning from primary to secondary education, when financial hardship and the prospect of earning an immediate income can place continued schooling at risk.
By targeting boda boda stages alongside mining sites, the government is signalling that the fight against child labour must extend to informal businesses, not just established companies and formal workplaces.
The inspections are intended to identify underage workers, establish the circumstances under which they are employed and take enforcement action against those responsible for unlawful or hazardous employment.
Komora has called on participants in both sectors to ensure that children are not employed in work prohibited by law.
The warning places business owners, mine operators and those who facilitate the employment of children on notice that ignorance of the law will not provide a reliable defence against prosecution.
What Kenyan law says
The crackdown is grounded in Kenya’s child-protection and labour laws. Section 18 of the Children Act, 2022, prohibits child labour, economic exploitation and work that is hazardous, interferes with education or harms a child’s development.
The Employment Act, 2007, also prohibits the worst forms of child labour and provides for enforcement action against offenders. Hazardous work is prohibited for persons under 18, making dangerous mining activities a particular concern.
The law does, however, distinguish hazardous labour from all forms of work by children: certain limited, age-appropriate light work may be permitted under prescribed conditions. The central question is whether the work is lawful, safe and compatible with a child’s education.
Keeping children in school
For Siaya, the implications extend beyond arrests. The county’s response will be judged by whether the inspections lead to children being withdrawn from dangerous workplaces, returned to education and protected against being drawn back into exploitative employment.
The challenge is particularly acute in informal sectors, where work arrangements can be difficult to document and household poverty may push children towards income-generating activities before they complete their education.
Effective enforcement will therefore require coordination among chiefs, labour officers, police, schools, parents and child-protection agencies. Operators must comply with the law, while affected families may need support to keep children in school rather than depend on their earnings.
The October 28 announcement by Commissioner Komora puts mining operators and boda boda businesses on notice. The decisive test now is whether surprise inspections are sustained, violations are properly investigated and those found guilty are prosecuted in accordance with the law.
For Siaya’s children, the stakes are considerably higher than a routine government enforcement exercise: they concern the right to education, personal safety and a future not defined by hazardous work.
