Residents of Awasi town in Kisumu County have raised an alarm over the increasing number of street children who have invaded major streets in the town.
They say the children are present everywhere in the market places and even residential areas. The children are accused of being violent in most cases whenever their needs are not met.
“They usually come here to borrow fruits, and am forced to give them because I know if I fail they will grab them forcefully because I have seen it happen to my fellow traders,” said Miriam Anyiro who runs a grocery in the town.
The most affected people are traders and shop owners who complain that the children presence is driving away customers.
“We sometimes lose customers, because these children just stand in front of a shop and when customers come they shy away due to fear,” said Job Otieno owner of a retail shop in the town.
Those in residential area face the same fate as they complain of the invasion.
The children are said to going from house to house asking for food. The residents are now a worried lot as the children’s population keeps growing day by day.
“Already, these children are causing havoc, and they increasing in number. We don’t know how we will handle them,” said Caren Rotich a resident of Awasi town.
The locals are now calling on the children department from Kisumu County to nab the children and take them into children’s home, before things get out of hand.