Factors Contributing To Streetism Among Children In Kenya: A Case Of Ngurubani Township, Kirinyaga County

Abstract

Streetism is a problem that needs to be dealt with by the concerned parties. Children are believed to be innocent individuals who need to be loved, cared for, supported, trained and guided by parents and guardians to ensure they grow to become responsible adults. The purpose of the study was to investigate factors contributing to streetism among children in Kenya; a case of Ngurubani township, Kirinyaga County. The study was guided by the following objectives: To determine how the family background contributes to streetism; To establish how Socio-economic factors contributes to streetism; To assess ways in which peer pressure contributes to streetism and to establish the interventions adopted by the government and Non –Governmental Organizations in mitigating streetism. A descriptive survey research design was employed. The study targeted 200 street children as well as each official from the children‟s office based in Mwea East Sub- county, Children & Gender Department at Wanguru Police Station, Joy Rescue Center, Utugi Children‟s home and Bethlehem Children‟s Home. The study adopted convenience sampling for street children and purposive sampling for the officials from the five institutions that were involved. A sample size was drawn from the entire population of children who are on the streets of Ngurubani town, Yamane formula was used to come up with a sample size of the study which was 133 street children. The primary data collection method included an open and closed ended questionnaire which was administered to the street children while face to face key informant interviews were conducted on the officials. Quantitative data was analyzed, presented and interpreted by the help of descriptive statistics; this was achieved through the use of Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software. The qualitative data was analyzed using layouts that is in the form of tables, percentages, frequencies, and finally with statement. Findings were; there was higher prevalence of boys in the streets than girls; the vast majority of respondents (street children) in Ngurubani Town were aged between 13 – 16 years. Additional responsibilities also contributed to streetism, with the eldest siblings were coerced by varying circumstances to fend for their families. Various forms of abuse were rife in the streets with the street children especially girls having faced physical, psychological, sexual and verbal abuse. Low income and wages meant that children could not meet basic needs thus the children moved to the streets; it was revealed that the majority had been influenced by their peers to join them in the streets. However, despite great efforts to establish government and privately run rescue centers and children‟s homes, majority of the street respondents had no knowledge of these institutions. The conclusion made was that the variables under study: Family background; Socio Economic factors; Peer pressure and Interventions adopted by the government and non-governmental organizations positively contributed to streetism among children in Kenya. The researcher recommends that more efforts are put in place to ensure that more children are enrolled in school from the grassroots level. Also, the researcher recommends that more participative programs are in place to create jobs for caregivers in impoverished households especially in rural areas. A recommendation was made that efforts are made to train additional social workers to help deal with street children. That street children can be attached to the existing care, foster home, rescue centers, children‟s homes and placed for adoption. Lastly, the researcher recommended that items of international conventions pertaining to children‟s rights and elimination of child labor are translated into legislation.