Govt proposes reviving recruitment of Street children into NYS

Labour and Social protection Cabinet Secretary Ukur Yattani says the Government is contemplating reviving the recruitment of street urchins into the National Youth Service ten years after the process was stopped.

The CS said a provisional report indicates that there are about 42, 000 street families in the Country saying there is need to rehabilitate them.

Yattani however said the Government will make public the findings of the recently conducted census on Street Families across the country.

The report done late last year will help in planning for rehabilitation of the street urchins across the Country.

The CS said the numbers are increasing by day yet the Government is committed to ensure there are no street children in the all towns in the Country by 2022.

This therefore he said will require a clear policy and legal frameworks on how to carry out the process.

Yattani said most of those living on the streets have been neglected and face various forms of discrimination and are now abusing drugs due to depression.

The CS was speaking to the press when he officially opened an induction workshop for the newly appointed Street Families Rehabilitation Trust Fund Board of Trustees at Lake Naivasha Resort.

He called on the new board to move with speed and draft policies that will guide implementation of the rehabilitation agenda for street families.

Yattani said the board will be mandated to develop a National Street Families Bill which will eventually be enacted into law and develop a Street Families Rehabilitation Trust Fund Strategic Plan.

Board chairperson Linah Jebii Kilimo said they are committed to ensuring the issue of street families is dealt with once and for all.