A group of Egerton University students from the main campus have dedicated their time and resources in making a positive impact on the lives of street children in Nakuru County.
In a programme dubbed Touch a heart, make an impact, the group comprising university students and other well-wishers is destined to see Nakuru town free of street children, a majority who they believe are capable of living a decent life with the right motivation and mentorship.
Speaking at the Nyayo Gardens on Sunday after engaging more than 20 street children in bathing before having lunch with them, Dan Kakai, the group’s coordinator expressed confidence that a positive change can be attained if the county government, corporate and individual joined hands in supporting their initiative.
“The problem with many of us is that we have never had the interest of talking to these children and get a clue of the circumstances that led them to the streets, all we do is give them a Sh10 and pass by,” he said.
Adding that “some of the innocent children we see are brilliant minds that lack somebody to hold their hands to a place they can call home and pick up their lives afresh.”
He believes that the streets can be free of beggars and street urchins if the county government comes up with a recovery centre that will offer professional guiding and counselling services to those who will be ready to be taken from the streets.
“Like today, we have made them shower, given them new clothes and had lunch with them. This bond makes some open up to how they wish to leave a decent life but lack motivation,” Kakai added.
Silus Njogu, a 13-year-old street child regrets the kind of life he is living but nevertheless believes that one day; there will be light at the end of the tunnel.
“I don’t have any parent or relative because as far as I can remember, I was born and brought up in the streets but believe a day will come when I will live a normal comfortable life,” he said.
He added that his dream is to become a teacher to educate society on the effects of irresponsible parenting that has led to the emergence of street families.
Kakai and his group uses other students from the university to help raise funds, clothes and foods that are used in facilitating their activities but said they are in talks with some non-governmental organisations, banks and supermarkets to chip in during future events.