Street children flock Lodwar town, steal from residents

Residents of Lodwar Town in Turkana County have raised concerns over the increasing number of street children following a move by the County Governments of Trans Nzoia and Uasin Gishu to return them to their ancestral lands.

According to the residents, the street children have turned to stealing from businesses within the town, homes and Mosques, sending a fear wave across the northern Kenya town.

Residents says that the street children are now a security threat and want the government to intervene with immediate effect.

They cited a recent incident where the street children stole many pairs of shoes from Jamia Mosque within the town when the Muslims were breaking the fast.

“We have lost more than 10 pairs of shoes, which were apparently stolen by street children as we prayed in the Mosque during the month of Ramadhan,” said sheikh Abdikadir Abdillahi.

The residents have urged the County Government to provide a lasting solution that will help deal with the street children menace.

Written by Paul Barasa