Concern over high number of vulnerable children in Nandi rescue centres County
Rift Valley
By
Edward Kosut
| Jan 08, 2024
The Children’s Department in Nandi has raised concerns over the rising number of children in rescue centres in the county.
By December 2023, over 300 children between the ages of five and 16 years were living in various children’s homes in Tinderet, Chesumei and Engwen sub-counties.
County Children Officer Hellen Wanyama said vulnerable children are grappling with food shortage and insufficient amenities. She said that most of the rescued children are victims of defilement and parental negligence and many of the cases are in the court pending conclusion.
“We have more children still being supervised under the care of their relatives and guardians, the existing children’s homes are not enough to accommodate them,” she stated.
Ms Wanyama added: “We are appealing to well-wishers to offer their support in the form of food among other donations.”
READ MORE
Cheche: We have a big task at the World Cup next month
Ambitious Awuor eager to leave a mark on her World Cup debut
Kenya declares three days of mourning to honour 17 pupils killed in fire
Marion Serenge wins June's SJAK Sports Personality of the Month Award
Junior Starlets, the pride of Kenyan football
History as Junior Starlets qualify for Fifa U-17 Women's World Cup
Kempes hails Junior Starlets, says women's football should now be taken seriously
90 minutes stand between Junior Starlets and World Cup spot
Kenya's Junior Starlets one win away from FIFA U17 World Cup
Among the children’s homes are Royal Rescue Centre, Kisaget Children’s Home, AIC Children Centre and Noel’s Homes.
Ms Wanyama said that more neglected children in the families need support and due to lack of resources, it has been a challenge to admit them into the children’s homes for
protection.
“The population is overwhelming, and we are rallying the members of the community to consider supporting vulnerable children for expansion of the educational rescue centres,” Wanyama explained.
She added: “We are looking forward to working with the county leadership to secure constituency development funds to expand the infrastructure.”
A spot check by The Standard shows Kisaget children’s home in Chesumei Constituency, which accommodates over 150 street children and orphans, is running out of learning materials and has poor infrastructure.
The institution initiated by the community over 10 years ago has dilapidated furniture, dusty potholes in the classroom floors and the children are living in fear of being infested by jiggers among other health complications.
Bernard Kibet, the director of Kisaget Children’s Home, said that the children’s rescue centres have been neglected, and they have not benefited from public funds including NG-CDF.
“We have ECDE learners and junior secondary school pupils, but we don’t have a library to store learning materials. The cost of living is high and essential needs like food are a challenge, we invite more food donations to sustain the children at the institution,” Kibet said.