Street Family Rehabilitation Trust Fund official Robert Njogu (L) addresses the press in Mavoko, Machakos County on Thursday.
National Census of City Families and Kenya Bureau of Statistics will soon be collecting data on street children nationally, says Street Family Rehabilitation Trust Fund official Robert Njogu.
Njogu said the exercise will enable the government plan well for effective implementation of programmes geared towards supporting and improving living standards of the families.
He said the state was coming up with a policy to address all issues of street children in a bid of ensuring street children free Kenya.
Njogu addressed the press in Mavoko, Machakos County on Thursday.
He said the trust fund was established in 2003 to support street children.
“The government has been funding the programme through reasonable funding, we work with partner institutions to support such children,” said Njogu.
Njogu said more than Sh600 million had been disbursed to the institutions by the government.
He said more than 1800 children had been rehabilitated and placed into schools and vocational training institutions since the fund's establishment.
“Through the fund, we have rescued, rehabilitated, educated and trained several children on life skills. Most of them are now employed while others have employed themselves making them self-reliant,” said Njogu.
He said they were working with county governments to support street children.
Njogu said Street Family Rehabilitation Trust Fund will establish County Chapters in all the 47 counties.
“We will work with the county chapters to address the street children problems,” said Njogu.
He called on parents to be responsible and raise well their children so that they do not end on streets.