More than 40 Busia children removed from streets

Busia

Saturday August 5, 2023

By Ochoko Gavin/ Victoria Magar

More than 40 street children including some from Uganda have been rounded up in Busia town, following a crackdown exercise organized by the Busia County Commissioner’s office and other stakeholders.

Speaking to the press at Busia Child Protection Unit within Busia police station Friday, Busia Sub County Children’s Officer Patrick Mukolwe said that the 49 children were mopped up at around 6.30 am Friday.

 "We have managed to round up 49 children aged between 12 to 17,” he said, adding that a few are above 18 and below 10 years.

Mukolwe added that the team has talked to their Ugandan counterparts who have agreed to receive their 26 children that were found in the streets.

He further said that they were planning to take the 23 children from Kenya back to their respective homes and in collaboration with their parents, carry out case conferencing to establish how best to help the children.

“Most of them come from disintegrated families and some are orphans, who stay with their grandparents,” said Mukolwe, adding that there was a need to support them socially and ensure that they go back to school.

The children’s officer pointed out that this is the second exercise after three months, adding that 20 children were rounded up from the street during the first exercise.

“We managed to take five Kenyan children out of the eight that were found in the streets at that time back to school,” he said, adding that three have stayed in school to date.

Mukolwe expressed confidence that a number of children, rounded during the recent crackdown will also be willing to go back to school.

"Those who are above school going age should be engaged in some meaningful training instead of roaming in the streets,” he said.

He suggested that such children be taken to rehabilitation centres because they have undergone various challenges.

"We are carrying out case management on each child to establish their needs, after which we will work with other partners to assist them,” he said.

At the same time, Mukolwe urged the Ugandan authorities to ensure that the children from their side are taken back to school so that they do not become a menace in the streets.

Courtesy ; K. N. A