Factors that influence growth of street children population in Kenya : A case study of Melili Sub-Location

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to determine the factors that influence the street children population in Majengo slums. The target population was 80 and 10 volunteers of the institution working with the children in Narok town Children rehabilitation centers. After obtaining a verbal consent, the children were interviewed using a structured questionnaires to determine how many of them live permanently on the street, those who live with guardians but spend most of their time in the street, those who are double orphans, single parents and those whose parents are divorced, separated or alcoholics. After assembling and organizing completed instruments, I used descriptive statistics to analyze data. I analyzed quantitative data using descriptive statistical tools of average, mean, percentage and frequencies. Chapter two comprised of the literature review which covered social and political factors affecting street children, challenges associated with children rights, street child focused interventions which include government and non – government interventions. The theoretical framework and conceptual framework are also given in this section. Chapter three presents the research methodology and the research design was descriptive survey which targeted street children, social workers from NGOs and officers and from department of Children. Data was collected using questionnaires for street children, Focus Group Discussion (FGD) with three groups of street children and one FGD with social workers and key informant interviews were conducted with children officers and municipal officers. Study findings show that street children in Narok face myriad social challenges which included poor access to health facilities where they were discriminated against and were also required to buy medication prescribed to them by health providers. Security was also a major problem where they were constantly at risk of facing violence from themselves, security agents, business community and the public. The study further established that there was poor coordination and duplication of services provided by the government and non-governmental organisations which often had a poor impact on the street children situation. The study suggests that government and other stakeholders should conduct community awareness creation and sensitization on the challenges facing street children at the community level; need for a sector-wide training approach for service providers involved in dealing with street children at all levels be developed , by the government in collaboration with stakeholders to provide holistic services to street children ; government agencies mandated with street children and an establishment of information desks at police stations to identify , track and follow up with street children whom are picked up from the town streets and protection of street children from politically influenced conflicts which often leads to their vulnerability as victims and perpetrators of ensuing violence.