The County Government of Nakuru is closing in on parents who have neglected their children turning them into beggars in Nakuru Central Business Districts, a county official has revealed.
Nakuru County CEC for Youth, Gender, Culture, Sports and Social Welfare Ms Halima Gababa said the county is implementing the Children’s Act where parents are obliged to take their children to school.
Under the Act, a parent or guardian who is convicted in court of having failed to take a child to school faces one year in prison or Sh50, 000 fine or both.
The CEC was speaking when she toured the International Children’s Mission, a Christian children home in Njoro that houses 10 street boys rehabiilitated from Nakuru town.
The 10 are part of the 81 street kids who were in late February rounded up in Nakuru town and placed in various children homes in the country.
She said the County was in the process of integrating the children with their parents adding that the government would not take the place of the family having provided amenities such as free education.
Mauche MCA Philip Rotich said the County Assembly of Nakuru will in future formulate laws that seek to protect children with stiff penalties on parents neglecting their children.
The International Children's Mission director Mr Michael Nieswand said the growing number of street children was a danger as they would turn into robbers and muggers in the teen years.
He said domestic violence, problems in school, child abuse and neglect were a key cause of children fleeing homes for streets.