Most children's homes in Mombasa County are illegal, official warns

More than 50 orphanages in Mombasa County are not registered, a government official has revealed.

Mombasa County Coordinator for Children Services Elizabeth Mbuka said although there are more than 100 children homes in the county, only 45 of them are registered.

The rest operate without valid legal documents.

Four homes were closed last year for failing to meet the standards set by the government.

“Most unregistered homes operate under the pretext that they are nursery schools.

“Last year, we closed four orphanages which did not meet the standards set by the government. We also found out that children were being abused in some centres and some of them were dirty,” she said.

Ms Mbuka said it is difficult to close unregistered homes because the owners claim they are nursery schools but tell education officials they are community based organisations.

The county said cases of child abuse are rife in the county and named Likoni and Kisauni as areas in Mombasa most affected by the vice.

Mbuka disclosed that spiritual leaders, relatives and tourists are the main perpetrators of child abuse and blamed parents and guardians of withholding information that could help arrest and prosecute offenders.

“Parents and guardians are to blame for not speaking out when their children are molested. Some of them even push their children to these molesters,” she said.

Mbuka said the failure by the government to implement laws that will help prosecute suspects has led to the rising cases of child abuse.

“Activists should come on board and work with the government to ensure perpetrators face legal action and get stiff penalties. In most cases, abused children usually keep quiet, helping the culprit escape justice,” she said.