Several children homes and orphanages across the country have been put on the spot for child neglect, abuse and discrimination, contrary to legal, national and international legislations that regulate the industry.
Addressing journalists during a thanks giving ceremony at Heritage of Faith and Hope Children Resources Centre in Sabaki, Machakos County on Saturday, the organization's director Teresia Kimiti said some of those who operate children homes and orphanages had more personal than child interests at heart.
Kimiti disclosed that the culprits adversely violate rights of orphans and vulnerable children under their custody, and wondered if they understood provisions in legal documents such as The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child that clearly indicate how such children should be taken care of.
She said some homes and orphanages were fond of chasing away rehabilitated children, especially the girl child who had given birth, who ended up back to streets for miserable lives with their babies thereby being molested due to desperation.
“Those children homes should know they are normal children and need normal upbringing, the homes operators should treat them as their own. What if their own children misbehaved or give birth?” said Kimiti.
Kimiti said children, who misbehave at the centres or worse conceive, should be re-accommodated, counseled and given special care for them and their babies, instead of sending them packing as witnessed in many cases.
She condemned such institutions and advised their operators to instill good morals and values in children under their care, to help them grow to responsible and prosperous citizens.
The centre which also runs a primary school in Mlolongo currently has 118 orphans, with 33 in secondary, 4 in tertiary colleges and 2 in universities, while hundreds have secured different various jobs in the cooperate since it was established in 2002, with Safaricom Foundation and Naivas Supermarket absorbing the majority.
Heritage of Faith and Hope Children Resources Centre, Sabaki, Machakos County, Safaricom Foundation, Naivas Supermarket