By Betty Luke
A robust campaign against child neglect has been launched in Isiolo with stakeholders calling on the government and non-state actors to cease supporting street urchins and instead address the issues driving them to the streets.
The six-month initiative is being run by Child Development Center’s within the Kisima 78 and Isiolo town Methodist Church of Kenya (MCK), Archers Post East African Pentecostal Church (EAPC) and Sereolipi Full Gospel Church of Kenya (FGCK) and seeks to sensitize parents and guardians of responsible parenting.
The campaign also hopes to incorporate different stakeholders supporting child protection including the Court Users Committe (CUC), Judiciary and County government’s among other partners.
“We hope to create awareness on the increasing incidents of child neglect in Isiolo and Samburu counties to ensure concerted efforts in raising morally upright children who can be relied on by the society,” noted MCK CDC Project Director Fred Maingi.
His Sereolipi counterpart Penina Lelente blamed retrogressive cultural practices and drug abuse for the rampant cases of child neglect in the region.
She said lack of exposure and illiteracy were also contributing to cases of parents and guardians neglecting their responsibilities as well as violating children’s rights.
“Some of the cultural practices allow children to walk naked and even tend to the family’s animals when they are supposed to be in school. To some of the parents, that is okay but legally it is wrong. We aim to create awareness on such issues and other retrogressive practices and misconceptions,” she told The Press Point.
According to Mr Maingi, charity initiatives targeting street children had contributed to the increase in children living in the streets as the initiatives discouraged them from reintegrating back to their families.
“The majority of the children living in the streets have either or both parents or relatives. If we continue feeding them, it will encourage them to continue living there,” he said.
Compassions International Kenya official Emmanuel Okonda noted that neglecting children was equal to depriving them of their basic rights and such would negatively impact their mental and physical wellbeing.
He said there was a need for parents to foster a good relationship with their children as it was vital for the future development and behavior.
A report by the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) estimates that over 250,000 children in Kenya live in the streets with poverty, family dysfunction and death of parents especially the mother being among the key drivers.
