NAIROBI, Kenya – Street families in the country can at least breathe a sigh of relief after Nominated Senator Esther Okenyuri pushed for their urgent protection.
The youthful lawmaker was speaking on the floor of the House, where she sought to understand from the Cabinet Secretary for Gender, Culture, and Children Services, Hannah Cheptumo, the measures being taken to have street children reintegrated into homes.
“This is in light of allegations that there exists a clique of cartels focused on reaping profit using street children to the detriment of their general well-being,” said Senator Okenyuri.
Senator Okenyuri regretted that previous attempts to rehabilitate or integrate street families into homes had failed.
“After all, we do not have a report on the same, so my question to the CS is what measures have your ministry put in place to actually get street children out of those streets so that they are reintegrated back into society because the allegations are we have cartels who are using those children as beggars and using them to make money,” added Okenyuri.
The specially elected senator, who doubles as vice chairperson of the Senate Committee on Trade, Industrialisation, and Tourism, asked the CS to shed more light on the issue.
“This is because my observation stated that one has failed previously because we do not have data from your ministry indicating the number of street children who have been reintegrated or rehabilitated,” explained Senator Okenyuri, who is also a member of the Finance and Budget and Powers and Privileges Committees.
https://twitter.com/EssyOkenyuri/status/1988522220608532686
While responding to Senator Okenyuri, CS Cheptumo said that the Street Families Rehabilitation Trust Fund (SFRTF) has conducted a study on street families, adding that the report will be launched by December 2025.
“The report will help us find interventions for what is to be undertaken. When we get this report, it will help us know how many families/children are in Nairobi, Nakuru, and other towns across the country and be able to determine where they came from, who the leaders from that town are, and what made those children or families leave. Is it because of violence? Is it because of poverty?” the CS announced.
What encourages street families to remain in the streets
CS Cheptumo further disclosed that some of the children who are begging in the streets are being encouraged by the money they receive from Good Samaritans.
“We shall also be able to educate the masses and say, Instead of giving money to the streets, you can donate it to a particular fund so that it can be used to help reintegrate them back to their families.” “But this can only be achieved when we get the audit report and the census report of the families living in the streets and from where,” explained CS Cheptumo.
https://twitter.com/Senate_KE/status/1988505651505508585
Meanwhile, news9.africa understands that SFRTF was founded with the mission to enhance and support the growth and development of children, young people, and their families by facilitating access to justice, education, health, and their psychosocial and economic support.
Putting communities at the center and fostering their growth through fair and sustainable opportunities.
SFRTF programs focus on the following outcomes:
– Rehabilitation and reintegration, economic empowerment
– Access to justice, education empowerment
– Climate change and a safe environment
The programs are all connected and essential to ending the cycle of poverty.
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