It was also revealed to us
that the chair lady runs a rehabilitation center called Wema Children’s home in the
coastal city of Mombasa and as such her center receives preference when it
comes to funding over the rest.
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| Street boys in Nairobi. |
A trust fund established by the government to
take care of the ever growing menace of street children in Kenya has been hit
by a major financial scandal. Street Families Rehabilitation Trust Fund was
established on March 11, 2003 by the Ministry of Local Government through a Gazette
notice No. 1558; it is now under the ministry of devolution.
The fund activities are administered by a
board of trustees that comprises eminent
personalities drawn from the private sector, public sector and civil society
and is currently chaired by Lucy Yinda,
wife to former MP for Alego Usonga Edwin Yinda.
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| Mr. Robert Njogu |
Sources within the numerous rehabilitation centers
that house some street children told The Weekly Vision that it is not
easy to receive funding unless one bribed an official within the fund so as to
qualify.
A director at the trust fund one Robert Njogu
was particularly mentioned by those who spoke to us. It was also revealed to us
that the chairlady runs a rehabilitation center called Wema Children’s home in the
coastal city of Mombasa and as such her center receives preference when it
comes to funding over the rest.
The trust fund received Sh. 500 million from
the government during the 2015/2016 financial year but cannot accurately account
for the money they have so far received as the street children problem still
persists.
According to the list that was seen by The
Weekly Vision, there are 42 rehabilitation centers spread across Nairobi
most of which exists only on paper but receive funding anyway. The centers that
exist only on paper are said to be operated by relatives of some board members.
Some centers that are in existence exaggerate the number of children under
their care so as to receive more money from the fund.
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