Looking at street families, one would assume that they are just a group of people who live separate lives in the streets.

This can be from the way they operate as lone rangers sometimes being in small groups. This is not the case as these street families also have a structure just like any other family.

Mtaa Wangu got to speak to the Chairman of this group, Mr. Charles Opiyo, who reveals a government like structure strictly adhered to by all street families.

Opiyo became the chairman of the Street Children Family in 2006 a role he says he took up because he wanted to guide the younger children on the street.

Charles Opiyo interacts with some of the children on the street outside Nakuru Railway train station.

Photo credit: BRET SANYA/MTAA WANGU

“During my earlier days in the streets, I used to engage in vices and as I grew older I got to understand that towing the line is the way to go. So when I matured and became an adult I developed a sense of care for these young ones and wanted to be a guide to them,” he said.

Opiyo says he then decided to call a meeting with the street children at the Menengai Social Hall and from there, he managed to convince them that he was the right fit for them and that he would be able to voice their concerns.

“I have now been the chairman and father to these children since 2006. Of course I am not just a chairman by name; I work to ensure that these children are able to at least get support one way or another,” he proudly says.

Interestingly, Opiyo has set up eight bases across the city centre each being led by a lieutenant. The job of these lieutenants is to inform Opiyo of everything including a new entrant, a sickly child or even a child who is involved in crime.

“Whenever there are new comers who come to the streets, I am informed. With the help of the chairlady Judy Wanjiru, we get to interview the child and get to know where they are from and what has brought them to the streets,” he explains.

Opiyo continues to say that he then informs Nakuru town chief who gets to contact the area chief of where the child is from.

Through that chief, Opiyo is able to understand the situation of the child’s home. Armed with this information, he decided whether the child should remain on the streets or be shipped back home.

“My biggest role is to work with the relevant government authorities and ensure that matters of the street children are given an ear,” he concludes.

sanyabret@gmail.com

Cheated at Birth: The military-like structure of street families in Nakuru city

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Bret Sanya