Date Posted: 11/9/2012 1:59:08 PM
Posted By: Mrs kihara Membership Level: Silver Total Points: 543
They are called the street children.Others call them street urchins.In Kenya,they are popularly known as 'chokoras'.They are the product of an irresponsible society.They are our children,siblings,friends, neighbors and family members.People don't like to associate or mingle with them.They are seen as failures and outcasts.They are children without a stable home or shelter.They live and sleep in the streets.They sleep on side-walks,temporary shelters,under fly-overs and bridges,bus stops,market centres and railway platforms.They are dirty and malnutritioned children.They are easily found in dump sites looking for unhygienic food that has been thrown away.They are everywhere in the streets,left,right and centre. They carry their belongings in sacks and they like to sniff glue.They are seen hopping from one corner of the town to the other begging for money from business people and passers-by.They beg for money supposedly to buy food.After getting the money from sympathizers,some do buy food but most of them buy glue to sniff.They say it makes them forget life problems and keeps them 'high'.To get money or food,they use several means.Some even use human waste(feces) and they force people to part with their hard-earned money.Others fake illness to get money from unsuspecting citizens and sympathizers. Most of them engage in petty errands,theft,prostitution or illegal activities in order to make ends meet.These children are abused,exploited,persecuted and neglected.They are easy victims of abuse and inhuman treatment.These children are exposed to health hazards such as unhygienic conditions of living and overcrowding because they prefer to live as a family.Having no shelter,they are constantly exposed to harsh environmental conditions such as heat,cold and rain.They face harassment by municipal council officers and the police.They are harassed,abused and persecuted by the authorities.The increase in the number of street children and families begs for answers.There is a problem somewhere.We need to play our respective roles to reduce the number of street children.It is possible to reduce the number of street children in our country but only if our society becomes responsible.This is a sad reality and we must face it head on.There is no turning back.We cannot afford to continue giving this menace a blind eye. Time to act is now.
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