County askaris arrest a street child in Nairobi. [PHOTO/standardmedia.co.ke]
The tough old Nairobi nightmares of the 90s seem to be back with the full return of street-boys.
The families are slowly returning and reclaiming the city's central business district.
Walking in groups, the teenagers approach women on town and harass them for money or other favours.
They are spotted hanging around eateries like Dominos, Debonairs and Pizza Inn and are also seen in areas that are mostly frequented by women.
The young people ask for money and if denied, they hurl insults and unprintable words at everyone who does not “help” them.“I totally hate them! One cannot leave any eatery in the CBD in peace any more. You must swiftly stuff your takeaway in your bag or risk having it snatched from your hands,” laments Maureen Okore, a city resident.
“I witnessed a lady being abused by chokoras around Pizza Inn yesterday. A week ago I was confronted by one near ‘bus station’ at around 8pm asking me for money. When I told him I didn’t have any, he showed me a handful of human waste on his right hand and threatened me,” says another city woman, Hellen Wakamwe.
She says she told him she was financially down and stressed up.
“I felt so relieved when he turned and peacefully walked away. We all need to do something about this menace,” she adds.
Another woman recounts how she suffered humiliation and embarrassment because of sexual harrassment in the hands of the children before two gentlemen came to her rescue.
“Oh God, those street children really mess up this city! We need another Matiang’i or a Michuki to drive this madness out of the CBD,” says Alice Mutheu.
Nairobi residents however blame the menace on the county askaris.
They also propose that the children should be taken to education and rehabilitation centres while those of more age should be introduced to the world of entrepreneurship to create ways of self employment.