Children in Samburu. [Photo/flickriver.com]
The Samburu county government has been challenged to construct a children protection unit as way of dealing with the escalating number of street children in Maralal town.
Samburu County Children’s Co-ordinator, Jane Kabiru said that more than 500 orphans and vulnerable children’s fate, living in eleven charitable children institutions in the county hangs in the balance.
Kabiru noted that the national government through the department of children services has stopped registering new Charitable Children Institutions (CCIs) or even renewing the licenses of the existing ones.
“Three institutions are seeking registration while eight are already due for renewal but we are not registering new CCIs or renewing registrations,” Kabiru.
As a result, Kabiru noted that the department of children services is facing challenges on where to place rescued children.
“The county government should set money aside for the construction of a child protection unit to ensure that minors in conflict with the law or those in need of care and protection are safe.The nearest children rescue center from Samburu is in Nakuru county," she said.
The county children coordinator said that her office is now trying to engage in sensitisation and community training on alternative measures such as adoption of such children by their extended families.