The Children’s department in Kiambu County has rescued over 350 children from illegal children homes in 2016.
The County children coordinator, Mwambi Mong’era, said the department is worried over mushrooming of unregistered children homes in the area.
“With help from security and judiciary, the department has rescued over 350 children from eight homes since January this year,” said Mong'era.
He said the department has embarked on a massive crackdown of illegal children homes and so far several offenders have been arrested and prosecuted.
Last week, the department rescued 53 children from Nderi Sacred Heart Home in Kikuyu Sub County.
“When we found out about existing unregistered institutions, we obtained a court order and sought police assistance to rescue the children,” Mong’era explained that after children are rescued, they are taken to children remand homes and upon obtaining a court order, they are placed at registered children homes.
The institutions which have been closed so far include Caritas Mariano in Thika Sub County, Jawabu and Baraka in Kiamba Sub County, PCEA and Cidai in Limuru Sub County.
Others are Emanuel in Githunguri Sub County and Destined and Nderi Sacred Heart both in Kikuyu Sub County.
He sent a warning to all those operating illegal children institutions and using children for financial gains, insisting that they will be arrested and prosecuted.
“All children homes operating in the county will be audited to flush out illegal operators,” Mong’era warned.