Thika West Children Officer, Lina Mwangi has recently advised residents against supporting street children in Thika town directly through food, clothes and other gift donations.
Mwangi noted that feeding these children would entice more children from disadvantaged homes to take to the streets.
According to her, these cases were mostly prominent during closures when these children did not have the safety net of schools.
Thika Children’s Officer warns Kenyans against helping street children directly, recommends utilising agencies. Courtesy.
“As part of the security and child protection team, we are requesting members of the public not to feed children in the streets of Thika town,” she stated.
She moreover urged the well-wishers to redirect their charitable efforts through proper channels.
“If anybody feels like they should be charitable to children in Thika town, they pass through the sub-county children’s office, the DCC’s office, the sub-county administrator and the town manager,” Mwangi clarified.
Talking of child labour, Mwangi highlighted the issue of child labour and exploitation, which is also often rampant during the school holidays.
She warned against the vice where many children in the region are forced to take on odd jobs in order to contribute to their families’ income, terming it a form of child abuse.
