Culture is a common thing in any group, tribe or clan. Everyone has unique characteristics, beliefs and traditions that they follow hence what Eldoret street children and families practice is not far from it.
More than a thousand street families in the Uasin Gishu's capital have adopted a new culture of their own, performing ‘rituals’ and peculiar ceremonies like burials and weddings.
A street urchin who identified himself as Gorge Junior revealed to that during demise and burial of one of their own, they smear ashes to symbolize that they are mourning.
“Mtu wetu akifa huwa tunajipaka jivu kwa uso kuonyesha kuwa tunaomboleza (When one of us die, we apply ashes on our face to show that we are mourning),” Gorge said.
He further said that even newcomers undergo an 'initiation ceremony before they fully get recruited into the ‘community’ of the street families. Their clean clothes are soiled and songs are sung mocking them as well as introducing them to the street life.
“For girls, boys take them as their girlfriends and no girl will live as single. Single girls have to stay with a man for his protection against aggressive boys who may want take advantage of them,” noted Gorge who was born in the street.
Most of the street families in Eldoret town are found along the Sosioni River, living in groups and each group knows their members.
“There are those found in the bridge, others reside behind Asis hotel and Califonia base after town market,” said Elvis Masharia, 17, adding that each colony protects their members against attack.
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