Kenya - Child Poverty

As refugees pour across the borders into Kenya from neighboring countries, and the aftermath of post election violence continues to affect many in the region, children remain the most vulnerable in an already difficult situation, especially in certain regions where AIDS infection rates in certain regions reach higher than 30 percent of the population. Kenya has an estimated 10,000 to 30,000 child prostitutes, nearly all of whom were driven into the trade due to abject poverty. Urban slums, famine, lack of resources and difficulties with the economy exacerbate the situation.

Walk down nearly any street in any region of Kenya and you will see children effected by poverty.  Here are a few of those children:

Children passing time on the streets of the Soweto Slum in Nairobi.

A young girl stands in front of a shack within the massive Kibera Slum, home to an estimated 1–2 million poverty-stricken Africans.

A boy outside of a make-shift shelter in the Kakuma Refugee Camp.

A boy on the outskirts of the Kibera Slum as workers dig sewage ditches in the background.

Sisters in front of a shack in an impoverished section of Kogelo.

A girl wears a plastic trash bag to protect herself from a rain storm on the streets of the Kakuma Refugee Camp.

A boy takes care of his sister on the streets of the Kibera Slum.

A boy searches for food in Nairobi's largest trash dump site.

A refugee watches as food aid is given out during a famine in the Kakuma Refugee Camp.

AIDS orphans on the streets of a slum area outside of Nairobi.

A girl cooks food on the streets of the Kibera Slum in Nairobi.

Comments

[Helen Bascom]

Your photographs convey the human spirit. Your work touches me and motivates me to make a difference in the world around me. Thank you.

[Question]

question while you were taking these shots to make a living for yourself what did you give them in return?? I'm sure they didn't sign a release, then again that is what many photographer love going to placing like this where they don't have to follow release laws

[Marcus]

Haha, sure "Question", what a brilliant way for a selfish person to make a living. Way easier than say being a wedding photographer, or any one of the countless occupations Zoriah could have taken. And I'm sure the subjects would all be better off if they remained out of sight and out of mind. I'm sure they don't want any attention to their plight, they'd prefer to be screwed over by an unaware world.
(Please note the sarcasm in this post, and also check the archive for Zoriah's descriptions of how often he has come close to getting killed in his line of work)

[Sha Clark Doan]

The way you capture faces is just extraordinary and there is such amazing texture in these images - thank you for sharing these faces.

[ramiro mrques]

Zoriah! Outstanding phostos! I have been promoting your work in my blog. It is a blog for teachers. I am Portuguese. Thank you for your work.

[Tristan Wheelock]

Amazing photographs as always. I work at the St. Petersburg Times in Tampa. I showed your blog to one of the staff photographers here and she was blown away and completely inspired. Your doing good things. Keep it up.

[Question]

ok, Marcus, there is another word that comes to mind, Child exploitation, no matter how bad they may have it there, they still have rights, and i bet none sign a release and/or giving anything in return for those shots..

[brent]

i dont think that photographers/journalists are required to have people sign a release before publishing pictures of them (example: paparazi taking pictures of celebrities and publishing them, i highly doubt the celebrities would sign a release)

also, im sure that when people see posts like this more money would get donated to charities and so the kids would get more food and education and things like that

[Michel de Groot]

You call this child exploitation? 'Question' you really make me laugh out loud... Without journalists/photographers traveling to these places in the world you wouldn't even know about these kids and their problems. If (photo)journalists would not be able to make a living out of the stories they produce and for which they sometimes have to put their life on the line as well, then stories of war, poverty, starvation and other social disasters simply would not be told, would not be visible for the western world. And to educate you a bit, traveling photographers are probably the worst paid professionals in the business. They work mostly on their own expenses with no financial guaranties. They have chosen for a life out of a suitcase, far away from their own families, friends and loves. Believe me, they don't do it for the fun nor for the money!! Many conflict photographers suffer from PTSD because of all the shit and misery they have had to witness while documenting other peoples lives. Who are you to judge from your comfortable couch!

It is clear that 'Question' does not understand the concept of photojournalism and the purpose of it. Whether that's caused by lack of proper basic education or just lack of common sense, who will tell? Luckily most people that are photographed in situations of conflict and misery do understand the concept of photojournalism and how it might help them in one way or another. And kids? Kids just like to be photographed. For the fun of it...

[Question]

you call it as you see it,

You are making a living off them as well.. yes you might be exposing the truth, but child labor is legal in those counties..

You are selling those images of those that you claim to be fighting for.

I understand more about it then you think, I took four years of photography, I didn't make it a career choice, because I wouldn't be able to sit back and allow things to happen that I could change. i once hope to work of National Geographic,

I would not be able to film a trap animal and do nothing about it.

Just what impact does your photos really have, since child labor is still going on in these counties I can only guess that your photos are working that well..

[Max]

to 'Question': this debate has gone on for years and I suspect it always will.

Go to google and look for stories about the photojournalist who photographed a starving child being stalked by a vulture and did not attempt to intervene in the fate of the child. The debate about the photographer's responsibilities and role in that situation eventually resulted in that photographer commiting suicide.

Either that or go back to DPR.

[hariz,H]

Yeah Max, I knew about a famous photo taken in Sudan or somewhere in Africa where a vulture is waiting to have a poor kid, which has fallen in his/her way, to make him/her as it's dish.

and the photo becoming a famous one before at last the photographer killed himself as his action not to help the kid has been debated. oh, poor him.

but, somehow, I adore your work Zoriah. And, I'm still new in this field, just as a hobby.

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there's only one thing in this world that make feel totally furious, and is see how to kids suffering for the stupids decision of their ancestors.

[Joshua Derragi]

I love these photos. I'm taking A level photography and I am studying documentary photography and photojournalism. These pictures really get the word out to the rest of the world about how shitty life can get. Good job Zoriah

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I agree with your idea.You look like very talented.It is very happy to meet you. Thank you!

[Florida Certified Public Accountants]

Situations are very different in places like Kenya!!

Many onganization have penalized child conditions all over the world, but the main problem isn't the Law.. It is the social conditions that, doesn't allow children (and adults... equally) to have, at least, minimal conditions.

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Lots of people are in poverty all over the world not only in kenya.

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to know what is good for them. Well I think there are many liberal states that don't seem to know what is best for them either.

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This is really heartbreaking and shows the huge correlation between poverty and poor health...on top of the chronic, widespread poverty, the lack of doctors, clinics, eye care, hospitals is just shameful.

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Thanks for shedding much needed light on this subject.

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