A non-governmental organisation in Nyahururu town has raised concern over increasing number of street children in major towns in Laikipia county.

According officials of Peace Ambassadors, child neglect, poverty, high cost of living and domestic conflict are major contributors to many children leaving homes to go and live in the streets.

The NGO chairman Thomas Karei said the rising number of street children was worrying and a security threat to residents and urged the county government and other stakeholders to look into ways of keeping the children from the streets.

Speaking when the NGO fed about 200 street children in Nyahururu town, Karei noted that the children were facing a myriad of challenges.

Poor parenting

“The children are prone to malnutrition because they lack proper feeding and live in deplorable conditions among others,” he said.

Similar sentiments were echoed by Emanuel Mutwiri and Susan Wangari who called for joint efforts by key stakeholders to help reduce the number of street children.

He said lack of proper parenting is the main cause of the high number of young children going to live in the streets in major towns.