KNCHR Report Exposes Gross Human Rights Violations In The Mining Areas

Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCR) has exposed cases of gross violation of basic human rights for people employed to do mining in Taita Taveta County.
The commission flagged out cases of school-going girls being forced to engage in child prostitution, child labour and rape.
“There are many bars in the mining areas where school girls were getting defiled day in day out. Mining, in this sense therefore has contributed to juvenile delinquency in the county,” said George Morara KNCHR vice chair.
He added that cases of sodomy were also rampant.
He noted that women bore the brunt of sexual abuse adding that extreme cases of assault were reported where women were subjected to indecent searches in the mines.
In the report officially launched in Mwatate Wednesday KNHCR further noted parents and guardians who stayed for long working in the mines received poor compensation and in return could not care for their children adequately.
This fact also denies the children the conducive environment for proper upbringing and development that they deserve from their parents or guardians, the report observed.
Morara cited mines in Voi, Mwatate and Wundanyi where insecurity was rampant as a result of the unregulated mining.
“Going by the reports presented, education is adversely affected in the mining areas with high school drop-out rates. It was reported that some schools in the mining areas did not have teachers”, noted the report.
Mining has therefore been seen as destructive activity, denying the affected children the right to education and compromising their right to a brighter future.
Rising cases of skin diseases resulting from direct exposure of children to the harmful effects of mining or as a result of widespread effects in the environment were also reported during the public hearing.
By Fatuma Jumeah