A False Start: Street Children's Journey into the CCIs and its Policy Implications

Abstract

Background: Globally, the street children phenomena have grown though disproportionately in Africa, Caribbean and Pacific countries. Studies have examined the factors that drive children to the streets, rehabilitation in the charitable children Institutions (CCI); however, little attention has been accorded to the journey from the streets to the CCIs. Objective: This study, sought to trace the pathways of street children into the CCIs and its policy implications. Participants and Setting: The study was conducted in Nakuru County, Kenya targeting institutionalized ex street children and managers of the institutions. Methods: The study conducted 205 interviews, 4 in-depth interviews and 2 Focused Group Discussions (FGDs). The data was then analyzed descriptively and thematically. Results: The street children are commonly arrested concocted as rounding up from the streets to the CCIs by the police, CCI staff and County Council Askaris (security agents). Secondly, majority (62.93%) of the ex-street children individually identified their needs, 10.24% identified their needs with some help while 26.83% had their needs identified by various CCI staff. This is not only a false start, but is also in violation of existing national children policy and legal frameworks. Conclusions: This study exposes gaps in existing national policy framework and lack of implementation of existing provisions. The false start negatively affects intended outcomes and positive outcomes realized may only be by default. Key Words: Street Children, Charitable Children Institutions (CCIs), Arrest, Rounding up, Policy Implications