Urban Poverty Research and Policy Evaluation on Street Children and their Families in Kenya

Abstract

This study of the phenomenon of street children in Kenya gives a general historical background to the problem, followed by a brief survey of the scant literature available. The major part of the study includes a field survey of street children and assessment of the policies, programmes and laws affecting street children. The study sites included the urban centres of Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, Narok and Kitui. The sample population included 634 street children, 32 parents of street children and 80 members of the general public. Interviews, questionnaires, observations and a study of secondary sources formed the methodology. Interviews with street children and their parents revealed that the majority of street children are males aged 6-15 years who for the most part are illiterate, of varied ethnic and religious background and migrant to the urban centres. Most came from single-parent large families and chose street life because of socio-economic factors. Most of the children had been in the streets for 2-3 years, and developed their own social groupings, worked at menial jobs and engaged in such socially undesirable practices as consuming drugs and alcohol and participating in illicit sex. Numerous health problems are noted. Most of the children desired education and a better life, but they generally had a pessimistic attitude towards their future. Conditions for the minority but growing number of female street children were found to be especially deplorable. Supportive and preventive programmes for street children were analysed. Only the Children's Department of the Ministry of Home Affairs and National Heritage runs public programmes for actual and potential street children. These are organised as rehabilitative and training programmes (approved schools and junior remand homes) and a family-based programme for maintenance of destitute children. Annual per capita expenditures range from KSh.30-400. Private programmes, on the other hand, number 110. Only three of these operate supportive programmes. A sample of eight preventive programmes revealed an annual per capita expenditure range of KSh.125-925. Obviously, a major problem of these programmes is budgetary constraints. Equally important are placement of graduate trainees and lack of public and government support. Public policy regarding street children dates back to a handful of laws from the colonial period. Many government officials interviewed were aware of the growing problem of street children and offered useful suggestions that would necessitate government, parental and societal co-operation. As regards the laws and street children, this study analysed over a dozen statutes. These are concerned with employment, contracts, essentials of life, sexual harassment, civil processes, protection and discipline. Another 40 laws deal marginally with children. Only four statutes deal specifically with child related issues, and these have to do with guardianship and legitimacy. International law and children is reflected in the recent United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (1990), on which there is to be a special African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of Children. As regards street children, the Convention deals with the definition of a child, welfare and civil rights and issues of status. There is much that needs to be done regarding law reform and juvenile justice as they relate directly and indirectly to street children