Reintegrate Street-Connected Children in Kitale

Child Rescue Kenya has continued to reunite lone children found in the streets of Kitale with thier families. Through the streetsmart program this year alone starting January to end of May 54 children were reffered to the Rescue centre from the streets. In the streets 40 children continued to access street based education of whom 5 have been enrolled for national examination and showing tremendous literacy improvements. They sat for examinations and given school report cards and this was very exciting. They felt like thier counterpats in the formal schools. 62 children were reunited with thier familes and retained at home and also went back to formal schools.

Amazingly despite all the efforts the number of the children and youth leaving and working in the streets of Kitale was 796( as per the head count report counted in July 2015 Railway Children in collaboration with Child Rescue Kenya). 247 were sleeping on the streets at night 60% being 15yrs and below.

These are shocking figures as more children continue coming to the streets the trend is worrying. The County government treats them as a menace that should be eradicated and this explains why they are subjected to inhuman treatment.  Child Rescue Kenya through the advocacy department continues to lobby the county the government to respect the rights of children and come up with initiatives that will adress their plight and sensitise communities to make deliberate efforts to stay with children at home, CRK has also liases with Child Protection Unit at the Police to secure a release of children often locked up with adults in same cells.

Child Rescue Kenya thinks of scaling up the work on the streets but constrained by resources, and so continues to appeal to those who care about the suffering  children go through to support  Child Rescue Kenya efforts.

Thank you again for your donations and support.

Links:

• http://www.childrescuekenya.org

In this parts of the world starting from the month of June to August many boys aged between 11 and 14 face the "CUT". Many young boys have preferred a street version of facing the CUT that is somehow easier that the traditional one.

The “CUT” locally known as “khukheba” is a traditional circumcision ceremony that involves the initiates to be moving around with metal wrist bands and bells, followed by huge crowds of people singing traditional songs.

The eve of the day that boy faces the “CUT” is an overnight ceremony that involves the boy ringing the bells to an ecstatic jeering crowd for the best part of the night, the boy has to endure all forms of obscenities and occasional slaps from uncles notwithstanding the enduring strain of ringing bells.   There is a lot of indulgence in the traditional local brew called “Busaa” by the crowd who are often very disorderly and rowdy. It all ends in the morning when the boy is socked in cold water and smeared with mud before being marched naked to face the knife.

It’s a harrowing experience for young boys who have to be taunted through the whole process christened as the way to manhood.

We have encountered many boys who decided to run away from home and do it on the streets. They live in an unhealthy conditions that sometimes leads to the wounds becoming septic, we have had 30 attending our street-smart program as we provide medical care.  

Unfortunately since they escaped the traditional route they are unwilling to return home for fear of the repercussions. We have rescued several and now on a truce brokering mission with parents hoping to reunite them.

Links:

• http://www.childrescuekenya.org/