Kioko

Kioko, age 17

“I work with the masons –the ones who build buildings. I started at 16 years because I needed school fees to continue at my high school. I joined a mason’s group. My job is to carry stones and blocks to the high floors of buildings. The girls do all the cement mixing. Now at 17 years, I have a lot of pain in my hands and chest from the dust and fumes. We have no masks and or helmets – no protection at all. I haven’t had an accident, but co‐workers have been hit by falling cement blocks and stones. These masons don’t take drugs because they need to be alert. The ones who mix cement take drugs so they can keep doing the hard work. I don’t like this work – it takes all my energy and mind so I can’t go to school. I only work at this hard labor.”