The emergence of street boys in Kisii town's central business district is posing a security threat, the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry Kisii County chairman, Benjamin Onkoba has warned.
Onkoba raised the red flag over the increasing number of street boys in the town saying they have become a social and security menace to residents and visitors.
Speaking at Gusii stadium on Sunday during a funds drive in aid of Maendeleo Ya Wanawake Organisation, Onkoba said if the local communities don’t partner with the county government and other stakeholders to address the challenges posed by street families, it will be difficult to find solutions to the problem in future.
"I am challenging families across the county to track the whereabouts of their children especially young boys, majority of who are finding their way to the streets of Kisii town thereby becoming a security threat both to residents and visitors," said Onkoba.
He said the street boys menace will only be addressed adequately if their parents and the immediate community members at home took initiative of tracking them whenever they are reported to have vanished from home.
This, he said, will ensure they are located and have them taken back home and rehabilitated from the streets where they are tempted to join illegal criminal gangs to the detriment of the county's security.
"It is worrying that the number of street boys in Kisii town is increasing at an alarming rate and the county government has to find a way of collaborating with families of the boys and have them rehabilitated from the streets before it is late," observed Onkoba.
The fundraiser was presided over by Governor James Ongwae.