A recent video has surfaced showing two street children stealing road metals in Ngara along the Thika Road Highway.
This incident highlights a growing issue in Kenya, where children are increasingly involved in the scrap metal trade.
In Migori County, for example, children as young as seven have been collecting scrap metals to support their families, often resorting to theft and vandalism of public structures.
Local leaders have expressed concern over this trend, emphasizing the need for government intervention to ensure these children return to school and are protected from exploitation.
The involvement of children in the scrap metal business not only exposes them to hazardous working conditions but also contributes to the destruction of critical infrastructure.
In Kericho County, authorities have noted an increase in school dropouts linked to the scrap metal trade.
Children are found collecting metals from dump sites and selling them for meager wages, leading to a cycle of poverty and limited future opportunities.
Officials have called for a multi-agency approach to address child labor and regulate the scrap metal industry to prevent further exploitation of minors.
The broader implications of unregulated scrap metal dealings are evident in the vandalism of infrastructure projects.
For instance, the Nairobi-Narok Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) has suffered significant damage due to metal thefts, disrupting services and posing safety risks.
These activities are often driven by economic hardships, with individuals, including children, risking their lives to ‘harvest’ metals for sale.
To combat this issue, the government has been urged to enforce stricter regulations on the scrap metal trade and implement measures to protect vulnerable populations from engaging in such perilous activities.
2 Street Children Have Just Been Recorded Stealing Metals in Ngara Along Thika Road Highway, Watch Video 🥲💔👇 pic.twitter.com/19WylzVoLN
— CITY DIGEST. (@city_digest) January 16, 2025
