Traders in Kisii have raised alarm over the escalating number of street children in the town.
Speaking on Monday, the traders led by Peter Momanyi attributed the situation to rising poverty in homes which forces the children to leave for the town searching for food.
“Most of these children crowd around hotels where they collect and feed on leftovers,” he said.
He called on leaders to find a lasting solution of save the children before they turn into muggers who will terrorize people in town.
Human rights activist, Alfred Akama, blamed families for poor parenting and broken families that have led some of the children to the streets.
Akama condemned leaders who bought food for the children instead of providing shelter for them and taking them back to school.
He asked local authorities to relocate those with families to their homes.
“Those with parents and homes can be returned there and be assisted to join school but orphans can be taken to children’s rehabilitation centres like Kiamwasi and Manga,” he said.
Akama suggested that those who have attained teenage years can be taken to local Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges to gain skills for sustenance.
He said that government efforts cannot be depended on to solve everything and appealed to churches and other community organizations to find creative solutions to curb the menace in Kisii town and Ogembo, Nyamarambe and Nyangusu among other surrounding towns.
By Enock Okong’o
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