The incidents of 2003 that Juma Abdalla Mmbona went through before making it to the streets of Nakuru still lingers in his mind.

Born of Uganda-origin parents, Juma says he had no option, following the death of his parents but to start facing life on his own as a young boy.

His parents’ death was occasioned by what Juma reveals was land conflicts way back in the village of Maseno in Uganda.

Read: How street families in Nakuru continue to suffer in the name of 'cleaning-up' the city

In an interview with Mtaa Wangu, he says his journey from Uganda to Kenya’s newest city Nakuru was full of challenges as he had no money to pay for his transport.

However, his hanging on a bus from Busia Border to Kakamega and later a lorry from Kakamega saw him land in Nakuru not to visit anyone but to start a life on the streets of Nakuru.

By then Nakuru was not yet a city.

“The welcome on the streets by the street children in Nakuru was a harsh one. At one particular time, near the corridors of Gilanis Supermarket, I was given a thorough beating,” he recalls.

Not knowing how to communicate in Kiswahili was another challenge that he faced on top of the harsh weather conditions.

Juma, who was also joined by his sister in Nakuru, is among the over 3000 street children in the streets of Nakuru, whom many city dwellers feel are now becoming a menace.

But, even as the city dwellers feel so, the street children who are on the streets for various reasons have no option for the streets have remained their only source of hope.

It will be recalled that during her campaigns in 2022, the current Nakuru Governor Susan Kihika promised to take serious matters of the street children especially after claims of harassment by previous regimes.

However, one year down the line, the street children in Nakuru are yet to have smiles on their faces.

Also Read: Kihika at One: A tough talking governor with a few fulfilled promises

Mtaa Wangu spoke to Charles Opiyo who has lived in the streets of Nakuru for the last 27 years.

Charles Opiyo during an interview at Railway station ground in Nakuru city.

Photo credit: BRET SANYA/MTAA WANGU

He reveals that the issue of street families has never been taken seriously.

He points out that the issue of street children being rounded up and dumped in some places has been the norm citing 2014, and 2018 incidents where the children were rounded up and dumped in Naivasha and Chemususu Forest respectively.

“When she was campaigning, she promised us that whatever was happening in the other regimes will not be repeated under her leadership. We are just praying that she abides by that and help address this issue once and for all,” he says.

In an exclusive interview, the acting County Secretary Dr. Samuel Mwaura refuted claims that the street children have been neglected.

He says the issue of street children is being addressed by the Social Services Department through a long term solution that will involve rehabilitation, adoption, counselling as well as restoration to the families.

While noting the high numbers of street children in Nakuru, Mwaura stated that the program of addressing the matter is a resource-intense matter that calls for partnership, adding that a drop-in centre will help trace them and see who can be counselled and taken back to their families through a legal framework.

Read: Kihika at One: How Susan 'sweet talked' her way into the hearts of Nakuru health workers

“We are working with other stakeholders towards adoption. Already Mapping has been done, and therefore we urge residents and the business community to give us some time,” said Mwaura.

As it stands, whether Governor Kihika was serious with matters concerning street children in Nakuru, is a matter of wait and see.

pmambili@gmail.com

Related: Kihika at One: What Susan should do to steer Nakuru county forward

Kihika at One: Will Susan change the narrative of street families in Nakuru?

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Pristone Mambili