Uasin Gishu Couty director of the Department of Children's services (c) Julius Yator in Eldoret on December 19, 2017. [Photo: Joe Khisa]
Parents and guardians from poor-backgrounds in Uasin Gishu county have been asked not to allow their children to loiter in Eldoret town and other urban centers begging for money from the public to sustain their families.
The Department of Children's services in the county has instead asked the parents to consider requesting to be included in the national government's cash transfer program.
According to the department's director Julius Yator, the government has sufficient funds that can help families taking care of the vulnerable children.
Speaking in Eldoret on Tuesday, Yator said currently there are over 6,000 households in the county being supported by the government under the cash transfer program that gives a helping hand to caretakers of the most vulnerable and ultra-poor children.
“It's not right for children to be out there on the streets and we are asking those taking care of them to ensure they stay at home and if they have problems sustaining them then they can be included in the cash transfer program,” he said.
Eldoret town has been witnessing an influx of street children some of who officials from the department of children's services in the County say are from poor families that reside in informal settlements.
The county government of Uasin Gishu has already begun the process of moving all the street children from the town to the Eldoret rescue center where vetting will be conducted and those with parents are expected to be reunited with their families.