Every person wants to make money in one way or the other. This is what Kibera parents want too.
Perhaps this is the reason why they have delegated their duties to their school-going children who have to look after their younger siblings while they are away making money.
These cases have become rampant in Kisumu Ndogo village in Kibera. Young children are forced to take care of their siblings after returning home from school.
According to the area village elder Maureen Agola, parents have delegated their role of baby sitting and are busy looking for money at the expense of the little ones.
This has led to an increased number of children begging in the area because some of the parents do not leave them with food.
However, according to Lucy Wairimu, a parent in Kisumu Ndogo, the current state of affairs makes full time baby sitting a challenge since couples cannot only depend on one spouse’s income to meet family needs.
“We need to work. If I say I sit at home and baby sit, where will I get money to buy food and other basic needs? I prefer looking for money on my own rather than depending fully on my husband,” said Lucy.
The mother of three children aged two, eight and 11 admits leaving her last born in the hands of her eldest son when he comes home from school so that she can attend to her fish frying business every evening.
However, unlike other women, Lucy said she leaves her children with enough food.