Street families from Eldoret Town have refuted claims that they are responsible for the increase in crime rate in the town especially around the Sosiani River bridge.
Addressing journalists at the bridge on Thursday, members of the street families dissociated themselves from the criminal acts saying the families living there have other ways of fending for themselves other than engaging in criminal activities.
The families say bandits have found this place a convenient area to do their job since all the accusations will be blamed on the street children who live in the area.
“We are not thieves. We fend for ourselves in broad daylight through jobs like loading and offloading of goods. Some of us collect plastic cans and sell them while others collect scrap metals and sell them to jua kali artisans. We are good people,"said Richard Sisia one of the youths from the families.
The street children said the accusations have led to most of them being harassed by the police and even being arrested for wrongs they have not committed.
The urged the government to view them as normal human beings and not criminals who have nothing else to do apart from engaging in crime.
“Most of us here are saved and go to church every Sunday. We are governed by rules and regulations that bar us from engaging in crime," said David Simiyu.
