Nakuru County government will construct a rescue centre for gender-based violence victims at Gilgil Sub-County Hospital a cost of Sh10 million.
Speaking during the vetting and screening of street families at Menengai Social Hall on Thursday, County chief officer in charge of Gender, Culture and Social Services Tume Abduba said that the centre, which targets girls and women, will be constructed in two phases.
“In the first phase this financial year, the county government has set aside Sh4 million while the second phase will take Sh6 million,” said Ms Abduba.
REHABILITATION
She announced that her department had identified an institution in Njoro sub-county to be refurbished and turned into a rehabilitation centre for drug addicts.
She urged the owners of children’s home in the county to ensure the safety of the children under their care.
“Let us give these children proper care. It is heart-breaking to rescue children from the streets only for them to be sodomised or defiled under your care,” she said.
Ms Abduba said her department would carry out impromptu inspection visits in all children’s homes to establish how they were taking care of the rescued children.
SOLICIT FUNDS
“We know there are some bad elements masquerading as children rescue centres to solicit funds from their donors abroad to enrich themselves at the expense of the poor street families,” said Ms Abduba.
She said she was concerned by the increasing number of gay people in the county and urged the home owners and caretakers to teach the children under their care good morals.
She said due to efforts by the Governor Lee Kinyanjui administration to give the street families a new lease of life, Nakuru is now becoming a safe haven for other street children from the neighbouring counties.
“I urge all the children’s homes to be on the lookout for outsiders who are invading our streets from Nairobi and Uasin Gishu counties,” said Ms Abduba.
SCREENING
She commended the children’s homes which have accepted to take the street children after the screening exercise.
County Director of Vocational Training David Mwangi announced that at least 43 street children had agreed to join vocational training centres in Nakuru town to pursue various courses.
New Life International picked five members of the street families, Street children Network of Nakuru (Scann) selected 10 boys, while The Bridge Street children took two boys.