A nominated member of the Meru County Assembly has tabled a motion seeking urgent county government intervention to address the rising number of street children in the county.
Nominated MCA Karimi Killingo urged the County Executive Committee Member for Youth, Gender, Culture and Social Services, Elias Murega, to formulate a comprehensive policy for rehabilitation and reintegration of street children, saying many vulnerable children in urban centres remain exposed to exploitation, substance abuse, poor health and lack of education.
Killingo said the county needs a structured rehabilitation framework, including the gradual establishment of rehabilitation centres staffed with trained personnel to provide psychosocial support, education and reintegration services.
“Street children continue to suffer because there is no clear county framework to rehabilitate and return them safely to society,” she said.
The motion also seeks allocation of adequate funds for rehabilitation programmes and provision of free or subsidised healthcare for rescued children.
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Killingo said the measures would align with constitutional protections for vulnerable children and Kenya’s obligations under international child rights conventions.
By John Majau.
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