By Eric Wainaina
A Kiambu court has temporarily closed a children’s home in Githunguri District for failing to offer care and protection to 84 orphans.
This is after the Children’s Department made a successful application seeking to be allowed to take the children from Elshadai Children Home to a better shelter.
Senior Resident Magistrate Catherine Oluoch ordered the orphans be put under the care of Welfare Society of Kenya for the next six months.
Kiambu District Children’s Officer Peter Kabuagi told the court that the home under the directorship of Stephen Maranga was not registered and was in poor condition.
The court was told that after an inspection by the area advisory council, the home was found unsuitable.
The boys were said to be sleeping above a cowshed, claims which Maranga refuted, saying the move by the Children’s Department was not in the best interest of the orphans.
Oluoch also granted an application by the department to get police to accompany them to the home to fetch the orphans.
The children were committed to Mama Ngina Children’s home in Nairobi.
