Govt to create special courts in refugee camps
By Aloys Michael, September 21, 2025The government is in the process of developing special courts across all refugee camps in the country to tackle child labour.
This comes amid increased concerns over cases of child labour and abuse in these camps. The joint statement was signed by the Central Organisation of Trade Unions (COTU), the Ministry of Labour, the Law Society of Kenya, and the Judiciary.
In an X press release posted by the Judiciary on Sunday, September 21, 2025, the courts will hasten access to justice for children who are the victims.
“The Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, working in conjunction with the Judiciary, is to establish courts in refugee camps to enhance access to justice for refugees,” the statement read in part.
“The Judiciary to strengthen child-sensitive procedures, legal aid, and remedies such as compensation and rehabilitation, while drawing on comparative jurisprudence to safeguard children’s rights.”
This comes after the government vowed to end child labour and to protect children from all forms of exploitation.
According to the joint statement, the courts will be overseen by the Ministry of Labour and the Judiciary and will handle cases of child labour and other abuses that minors might be subjected to in these camps.
The government will also engineer universal social protection systems that will enable children who have suffered child labour in these camps to access critical services such as healthcare, rehabilitation and education.
“There is a need for more strategies to monitor and regulate private spaces, such as homes, where child labour and exploitation are often concealed,” it stressed.
Penalties and child justice
The government has further pledged to reinforce diplomatic relations with other neighbouring countries to combat child labour, as the labour ministry reinforces the crackdown, in collaboration with other state agencies, to ensure that those facilitating child labour are nabbed and stiff legal action is taken against them.
Authorities are also pushing for the strict enforcement of penalties for child labour violations to deter offenders.
“The various state bodies are to fully implement existing child protection laws and policies by protecting offenders, harmonising conflicting provisions, finalising pending regulations, and ensuring children have clear, accessible, and effective remedies when their rights are violated,” the statement read.
The Department of Children’s Services has further assured that it will work with the Ministry of ICT to empower youth through online, digital, e-Learning platforms such as Ajira and Jitume to protect youths from exploitative labour.