The International Rescue Committee (IRC) plans to open Kakuma Child Rescue Centre in Turkana West sub-county.
IRC has partnered with Turkana county government to operationalise the rescue centre, which is expected to accommodate the first batch of 40 street children by December.
The organisation met with the County Department of Education, Sports and Social Protection and promised to deliver bedding and ICT equipment to support children in the centre.
Speaking during the meeting, Chief Officer for Education and Social Protection, Moses Korea, said that the county had set aside a budget for the centre, without disclosing the amount allocated for the same.
Korea said IRC would officially launch the facility to enable accommodation of children in the second week of December.
He said the local leadership and education stakeholders have been informed of plans to open the centre.
Leaders have raised concern over the growing number of street children from refugees and host community.
"The department was working to sensitize the community on the role of government about child protection," Korea said.
Women Protection and Empowerment Officer, Rose Muthee, said the support would include beds, bedding accessories and utensils for daily use.
"We would further support the centre with furniture and food supply to sustain the rescue centre," Muthe said.
Kakuma ward area MCA Eliud Emoni said there was need to operationalise the rescue centre owing to the huge number of children in need of the facility.
Deputy Director for Social Protection, Hebrews Idoka, appreciated IRC for being strategic in the partnership towards supporting social issues like training of social workers.
