Concern over high number of vulnerable children in Nandi rescue centres County

300 children live in various children's homes in Nandi. [iStockphoto]

The Children's Department in Nandi has raised concerns over the rising number of children in rescue centres in the county.

By December 2023, over 300 children between the ages of five and 16 years were living in various children's homes in Tinderet, Chesumei and Engwen sub-counties.

County Children Officer Hellen Wanyama said vulnerable children are grappling with food shortage and insufficient amenities. She said that most of the rescued children are victims of defilement and parental negligence and many of the cases are in the court pending conclusion.

"We have more children still being supervised under the care of their relatives and guardians, the existing children's homes are not enough to accommodate them," she stated.

Ms Wanyama added: "We are appealing to well-wishers to offer their support in the form of food among other donations."

Among the children's homes are Royal Rescue Centre, Kisaget Children's Home, AIC Children Centre and Noel's Homes.

Ms Wanyama said that more neglected children in the families need support and due to lack of resources, it has been a challenge to admit them into the children's homes for
protection.

"The population is overwhelming, and we are rallying the members of the community to consider supporting vulnerable children for expansion of the educational rescue centres," Wanyama explained.

She added: "We are looking forward to working with the county leadership to secure constituency development funds to expand the infrastructure."

A spot check by The Standard shows Kisaget children's home in Chesumei Constituency, which accommodates over 150 street children and orphans, is running out of learning materials and has poor infrastructure.

The institution initiated by the community over 10 years ago has dilapidated furniture, dusty potholes in the classroom floors and the children are living in fear of being infested by jiggers among other health complications.

Bernard Kibet, the director of Kisaget Children's Home, said that the children's rescue centres have been neglected, and they have not benefited from public funds including NG-CDF.

"We have ECDE learners and junior secondary school pupils, but we don't have a library to store learning materials. The cost of living is high and essential needs like food are a challenge, we invite more food donations to sustain the children at the institution," Kibet said.