09 census report

2009 Street Children Census

Report

May 2010

Thika, Kenya

2 2009 Thika Street Children Census Report

Table of Contents

Introduction…………………………………………………..3

Executive Summary……………………………………….5

Methods……………………………………………………….10

Results………………………………………………………….11

Conclusions and Recommendations……………..24


Introduction

The 2009 Thika Street Children Census (hereafter the “census”) was coordinated by Action

for Children in Conflict (AfCiC), in partnership with the District Children’s Office and other

NGOs on behalf of the Street Children Steering Committee, Thika West District.

The participating NGOs were: Wema Centre, Moyo Children Centre, YMCA, Otto Haufman

and the Red Cross. The Municipal Council of Thika and District Education Office were also

active in supporting this census.

The purpose of the census was to investigate the scale and nature of the street child

population in Thika, Kenya. Since the most recent Thika Street Census, conducted in 2007,

AfCiC and other area Children’s Charities have noticed a steady reduction in the number of

street children in Thika, and hoped the census would provide valid data on this trend.

The Street Children Steering Committee, Thika West, believes it is important to compile

reliable quantitative data to accompany the qualitative observations of staff working in the

children’s sector. This census seeks to do just that by using standardized interview methods

and materials, and by thoroughly canvassing the entire area over a 24 hour period. Other

street children censuses were conducted in 2004 and 2007, and it is important to

periodically investigate the street child population to ascertain whether current strategies

deployed to tackle this problem are successful.

In this report, the data from the census will be presented and analysed with lessons learned,

conclusions, and recommendations for future work and information gathering. We hope

that this census will indicate areas where work has been successful, areas to be improved,

and avenues for new directions in street child work in Thika.

The age range of people interviewed in this census was 3 to 29 years. Because some of the

street youth interviewed can not be classified as children, the results will often feature a

break down of those under 18 and those 18 and older. In addition, the analysis will feature

comparisons with the 2007 street census to highlight areas of change. Those aged 18 years

and over have been included in this study as it is recognized that this group play a key role in

the recruitment and abuse of younger children on the street. Unless this group is

understood and assisted, younger children will continue to be exploited.

Finally, the data from this census are subject of various forms of inaccuracy. Interviewers’

human error, deficiencies in the interview materials, as well as response bias and reluctance

to be truthful on the part of the subjects have all likely contributed some inaccuracies. In

addition, the census can only represent the street child population of Thika at one particular

point in time. This population is subject to periodic shifts in size and nature, depending on

the conditions of different communities. For example, some children shift between Thika,


Ruiru, their home villages, and Nairobi depending on where there is a better chance of

getting money and where conditions are less harsh. Despite all this, we are confident that

the data from this report provide a useful guide to the general size and nature of the street

child population of Thika.

Sincerely,

Eleanor Harrison

Chair, Street Children Steering Committee, Thika West

Director, Action for Children in Conflict

Street Children Steering Committee, Thika West

• District Children’s Office (Secretary)

• District Commissioner’s Office

• District Probation Office

• Municipal Council of Thika

• District Education Office

• Moyo Children Centre

• Wema Centre

• Child Rescuing Centre International

• Otto Hoffman Centre

• Action for Children in Conflict (Chair)

• Thika Police

• Caritas Mariana

• YMCA

• Kiandutu Residents Association


Executive Summary

Methods

Data for the census was gathered on 24th

-25th

November 2009 over a 24 hour period. The

interviews were conducted by teams of 2 or 3 combined staff and volunteers from different

participating organizations. The interviewers worked within a set time frame and were

disbursed to different areas of town, identified by knowledgeable local staff as the most

likely areas for street children to be found. Other areas of town were also traversed by

interviewers to make sure the entire town was covered. As well as areas of Thika Town we

included the market in Makongeni because this growing industrial area attracts many street

children, and has been the site of an AfCiC outreach clinic since 2008, after the previous

census found it was an area of high street child concentration.

Interviewers made contact with street children, verified their status, and asked them the

survey questions. All interviewers also attended a briefing session regarding the best

methods of asking questions and the correct way to complete the survey. A Street Children

Steering Committee Meeting was then held to discuss and analyse the results, and this

report was commissioned. In addition to identifying ways to improve their work with street

children, the organisers also hope to identify ways to improve the census research methods

and survey design.

Results

The following is a summary of the results from the 2009 street census. Efforts have been

made to compare results of those under 18 to those 18 and older, and to compare results to

those of the 2007 street census. For more detailed analysis of the results, complete with

charts and figures, please see the full results section of this report.

Number

The first important result of the census is the size of the street population found. The

interviewers spoke with 143 children and youth, covering the whole of Thika Town and

Makongeni market. Though not able to find each and every person, the interviewers went

to great length to find as many as possible, expanding into more areas than ever before. It

is fairly safe to estimate the number of street children and youth in these areas to be

between 150 and 160. In 2007, the number in these areas was estimated to be between

260 and 300. This represents a very large reduction (40 to 50%) in the space of two years.

Gender and Age Range

The majority of those who responded were between ages 10 and 18. This is very important

information as the Government, Council and NGOs decide where to focus resources and at

what ages children tend to leave home for the street. There were 54 respondents in the


“youth” category (18 and over), and 89 in the “child” category (under 18). As with the last

census, the overwhelming majority of respondents were male (90%).

Place of Origin

The respondents were asked where they come from, and the answers were classified as

being a slum, town, or rural village. In this census, 58% of the 118 who responded to this

question were from a slum, 23% from a village, and 19% from a town. Very importantly,

most of those from slums were from Kiandutu, a large slum on the outskirts of Thika Town.

In fact, 48% of all those surveyed come from Kiandutu. This suggests that all Government

Departments, NGOs and Community Organisations must strengthen their ties with the

communities and schools in Kiandutu, in order to reduce the flow of street children.

Family Details

According to information collected about the children’s families, 43% of those interviewed

claimed to have parents who are still together, 11% said their parents were separated, 35%

were single orphans, and 11% were double orphans. Though 57% claimed to not live with

both parents, many involved with the census believe that the real number must be higher.

It was thought that some children may have been confused by this question, and in future

censuses we will seek to improve understanding with more clear definitions.

Respondents were also asked who they lived with at home. We understand that many of

these children and youth spend many nights on the street, but many also sleep at home at

least occasionally. We wanted to understand who children go home to when they do go

home. The most common responses were: single mother (24%), both parents (23%), and

that their home was the street (24%). Fewer children said they lived with single fathers,

grandparents, friends or other relatives.

Education

Interviewers asked children and youth questions about their educational attainment. Of the

127 who responded to this question, 81% claimed to not be attending school, while 19%

said they were still attending. The 2007 census had markedly different results, as 49%

claimed to be still attending school and the remainder not. The current street population,

which mostly does not attend school, probably represents children and youth who are more

hardened and more difficult to return to home and school. Not surprisingly, of the 46 youth

18 years and older who answered this question, only one was still attending school while 45

had dropped.

Street Life and Survival

The respondents were asked questions about how often they went to the streets, and how

they survived there. When asked how often they went to the street, 85% said every day

and 14% said several times a week. Of those over 18, 94% went to the street every day.


When asked where they sleep, 45% reported sleeping on the street every night, 13% slept

on the street some nights, and 19% slept at home regularly.

One very important piece of information garnered by the census was how children and

youth acquired money for food while on the street. There were several different methods of

getting money, from collecting scrap metal and plastics with value and selling them, to

begging, to doing small tasks for merchants, to commercial sex. The most common

responses were collecting scrap metal (34%), begging (36%), and other (52%). There were

many different “other” responses, but by far the most common was carrying luggage for

people coming to and from the market, which is also a major transport center. Though it

would have been very interesting to know, we did not investigate the prevalence of theft

and other crime as a means of getting money among street children because it would have

been extremely difficult to gather accurate information.

Problems on the Street

When asked about drug use, 70% reported taking drugs, many using multiple drugs at once.

Sniffing glue was the most common drug, used by 49% of respondents. Miraa, marijuana,

alcohol and cigarettes were also common responses. The drug use figure has increased since

2007 when it was 36%. We believe that this increase is due to a change in the street

population we sampled and more accurate data. Those conducting interviews for this

census were more experienced youth workers, who often knew the children they spoke to

personally and could established a better rapport, leading to a more accurate interview.

Coming into conflict with law enforcement and being arrested is another common problem

street children and youth face. Just as 70% of children and youth are doing drugs, 70% also

reported that they had been arrested at least once. This number, largely unchanged since

2007 (73%), is alarming. Either street children and youth are turning to crime to survive or

they are becoming easy scapegoats and targets for police, being accused of crimes they did

not commit because of their low social status.

Beatings are also a problem for street children and youth, with 72% claiming to have been

beaten. Usually, these beatings were administered by other youth or the Police.

NGO Assistance

Respondents were asked if they had received any assistance from an NGO, with 78%

responding affirmatively. This is a major increase from 2007, when 35% had received

assistance. Most of the assistance was in the form of residential or school help, with fewer

receiving skills training or other employment assistance. We believe business and skills

assistance represents an opportunity for expansion.


Future Assistance Desired

We asked respondents what types of assistance they would like to receive in the future.

The District Children’s Office, Ministry of Youth Affairs, and relevent councils, along with

Children’s NGOs have a responsibility to help children who have been left behind by society

and now find themselves living on the street, without the basic necessities of a decent life,

and without the tools to build a better future. The largest area of desired assistance was

skills training, with 44% expressing this desire. When combined with those who desire to

get employment or start businesses, fully 67% of those who responded desire assistance in

the areas of business and work. This is much more than 2007, when only 20% expressed

these wishes. Another 38% also requested school related assistance, showing that school

feeding, education and drop-out prevention programmes remain very important.

Conclusions and Recommendations

The 2009 Street Census will be a valuable tool for the organisers as they seek to serve the

most vulnerable populations in Thika. Some of our conclusions are below.

• Age and gender data tell us that the majority of those on the streets are boys

between the ages of 10 and 18, so prevention efforts should be concentrated on

boys this age and younger.

• Because most street children and youth in Thika are from slums, especially Kiandutu,

we should increase partnerships and prevention work in these places.

• The majority of street children and youth do have a guardian, so we should explore

ways to make guardians more responsible for their children. Reunification work with

guardians should be increased, with less reliance on children’s homes.

• Orphans and those with separated parents tend to stay on the street longer and

become more hardened cases, so we should explore ways to mitigate these effects,

with mediation as a possibility for keeping parents together.

• Some children can not go home and children’s homes are constantly overcrowded,

so we should explore ways to increase adoption and foster parenting as solutions for

certain children.

• Almost all of those on the street leave school between Standard 2 and Standard 7, so

we should continue our prevention work in the lower classes of primary schools.

Also, Government should encourage schools to keep children in school and off the

streets until 5 pm without extra payment, not releasing them earlier.

• School holidays are when many children go to the street due to lack of food or

activities at home, and lack of money to pay for school tuition. We recommend

Government sponsored facilities for children who can not afford to pay extra tuition

during school holidays.

• Since 2007, the decrease in street children from St. Patrick’s Primary, Garissa Road

Primary, and Kianjau Primary shows that feeding programmes are good ways of

preventing children from going to the streets. School feeding programmes should be

spread to more vulnerable schools in the area.

• Most street children and youth collect scrap metal, carry luggage, and beg to survive.

We should conduct advocacy and awareness campaigns to scrap metal dealers and


the general public to not employ children or give them money, as this only keeps

children on the street.

• Many street children and youth have been arrested and/or beaten by the Police. We

should increase Police sensitization and dialogue between the Police, street

children’s stakeholders, and the children themselves.

• The majority of those interviewed had already received some NGO assistance that

had failed. NGOs should strive to improve the quality of their programming

whenever possible, to ensure maximum success rate.

• The census has given us a number of children and youth to work with, but more

arrive every day. School feeding programmes, drop out prevention work, and school

holiday activities have demonstrated effectiveness in keeping children off the

streets. There are also a number of measures that Government could take to keep

children off the streets, such as keeping children in school until 5pm, not charging

extra tuition at school holidays, and making school uniforms non-compulsory.

• Government, NGOs, and the private sector must all cooperate and share

responsibility in this effort.

• It is thought that, when faced with problems, boys are more likely to leave home for

the street and girls are more likely to put up with hardship at home. When girls do

run away, they tend to gather in social places like hotels, and sometimes engage in

commercial sex. We recommend a separate, smaller study on the nature and size of

the female sex trade population in Thika, perhaps organized by a girls-focused NGO.

• We recognize that many children on the streets of Thika come from Kiandutu slum.

We also know that there are many children on the streets of Kindutu that do not

come to Thika. The next census should include Kiandutu itself as part of its coverage

area.


Methods

The gathering of census data took place on 24th

-25th

November 2009 over a 24 hour period.

The interviews were conducted by teams of 2 or 3 combined staff and volunteers from

different participating organizations. The interviewers worked within a set time frame and

were disbursed to different areas of town, identified by knowledgeable local staff as the

most likely areas for street children to be found. Other areas of town were also traversed

by interviewers to make sure the entire town was covered, but the

areas of concentration are listed in the box. Like in the 2007

census, we included the market in Makongeni as well as areas of

Thika Town because this growing industrial area attracts many

street children, and has been the site of an AfCiC outreach clinic

since 2008, after the previous census found it was an area of high

street child concentration.

The Census was conducted on a school day before the end of the

School Term because it was recognized that during the holidays

there are many school-going children loitering on the streets in

the day time, who are not truly street children.

When interviewers came into contact with suspected street

children, some screening questions were asked to verify the status

before proceeding with the questionnaire. Juice, biscuits or some

small money for a snack was offered to the children after the

survey. Interviewers filled out a standard interview survey for each child. A copy of the

survey is available as Appendix A of this report. All interviewers attended a briefing session

regarding the best methods of asking questions and the correct way to complete the survey.

During the census there was a series of debrief sessions for interviewers held at the AfCiC

offices. These occurred at the end/beginning of shifts to make sure notes on children

already interviewed were shared, and any problems identified during the Census were

addressed quickly. All the completed survey forms were deposited at these offices, and an

AfCiC volunteer compiled all of the data on behalf of the Committee. A Street Children

Steering Committee Meeting was then held to discuss and analyse the results, and this

report was commissioned. In addition to identifying ways to improve their work with street

children, the organisers also hope to identify ways to improve the census research methods

and survey design.

Jamhuri

U-Shop

Majengo dustbin

Main stage

Jua Kali

Manyondo

Golden Plate

Section 9

Tusky's

Kassmatt

Thorntons

Caltex

Kimuti

Vienna Café

Gitangi

Makongeni


Results

The following are the results of the 2009 street census. Every effort has been made to

present the results with clarity and to highlight the importance of each result. When

separating the respondents into those under 18 and those 18 and older, this report will

refer to the younger group as “street children”, and the older group as “street youth”.

When referring to the groups together, this report will use the terms “street population” or

“street children and youth.”

Number

The first important result of the census is the size of the street population found. The

interviewers spoke with 143 children and youth, covering the whole of Thika Town and

Makongeni market. Though not able to find each and every person, the interviewers went

to great length to find as many as possible, expanding into more areas than ever before. It

is fairly safe to estimate the number of street children and youth in these areas to be

between 150 and 160. In 2007, the number in these areas was estimated to be between

260 and 300. This represents a very large reduction (40 to 50%) in the space of two years.

However, it is important to note that the 2007 census took place on a Saturday. As a result,

some children found on the streets in 2007 were not full time street children, but rather

those loitering around the streets on non-school days. Comparisons between the results of

the two censuses are therefore useful but imperfect.

Gender and Age Range

The age range of the street population breaks down as follows:

The majority of those who responded were between ages 10 and 18. This is very important

information as the Government, Council and NGOs decide where to focus resources and at

what ages children tend to leave home for the street. There were 54 respondents in the

“youth” category (18 and over), and 89 in the “child” category (under 18). Again, this


represents a significant reduction from 2007, especially in terms of younger children found

on the street.

The gender of street children and youth in Thika is important because it tells us which

children are most in danger of coming to the street to survive. This census indicates that, of

the 143 persons surveyed, 90% were male and 10% were female. This is an even wider gap

than the 2007 census, in which 80% were male. When broken into “child” and “youth”

categories, the gender breakdown is very similar to that of the group as a whole.

Upon analyzing these results at the Street Children Steering Committee Meeting held on 2nd

March 2010, it was noted that young girls may often be involved in child prostitution in the

unregulated small hotels and kiosks, and that these areas were not penetrated during the

survey. It was agreed that this was an important, different category that needs further

research. Such girls cannot not be considered street children, as they do not reside or spend

much time on the street, but they are urgently in need of extra care and protection.

Place of Origin

The respondents were asked where they come from. The answers were recorded and

classified as being a slum, town, or rural village. In this census, 58% of the 118 who

responded to this question were from a slum, 23% from a village, and 19% from a town.

Very importantly, most of those from slums were from Kiandutu, a large slum on the

outskirts of Thika Town. In fact, 48% of all those surveyed come from Kiandutu. This

suggests that all Government Departments, NGOs and Community Organisations must

strengthen their ties with the communities and schools in Kiandutu, in order to reduce the

flow of street children. This census, though finding many street children from Kiandutu, did

not penetrate the slum to search for children. It is thought that many street children spend

their time in Kiandutu, and it would be useful for future surveys to investigate this area as

well.


When broken down by age group, the results are similar, but the older “youth” group

tended to be even more often from slums. Of those 18 and older, 64% were from slums,

23% from villages, and 14% from towns.

Family Details

Respondents were asked about the status of their parents, whether they were together,

separated, and living or not. From the 2007 census AfCiC learned that despite commonly

held beliefs, most street children are not total orphans, and do have homes with at least

one parent present. We wanted to test this assumption again, to find some evidence of the

roles family breakdown and parental death play in driving children to the streets. According

to our information, 43% of those interviewed claimed to have parents who are still together,

11% said their parents were separated, 35% were single orphans, and 11% were double

orphans.

Though 57% claimed not to live with both parents, many involved with the census believe

that the real number must be higher. Interviewers revealed that it was difficult to get

information from some respondents on this question. Some were not completely sure

where their fathers were, whether they have died or simply gone away. Others were not

completely clear on the definition of “together”, whether the parents spend each day and


night together, or if one parent comes home several times a year, for example. In the

future, clearer definitions for both interviewer and respondent would help with

understanding, as most observations suggest that the number of street children and youth

with their parents together is lower than reported.

When broken down by age, the results are somewhat different. As shown in the graph

below, there was a larger proportion of orphans (single or double) in the older group, and a

smaller proportion of parents together. It is possible that those with more difficult home

lives and more parental death tend to stay on the street longer and have fewer options as

they get older.

Respondents were also asked who they lived with at home. We understand that many of

these children and youth spend many nights on the street, but many also sleep at home at

least occasionally. We wanted to understand who children go home to when they do go

home. This can help the organisers to focus interventions on the right stakeholders in

children and youth’s lives. As shown below, most respondents live with both parents, a

single mother, or claim to only sleep on the street. Only a small number claim to live with a

single father, grandparents, other relatives, or friends. As AfCiC and other NGOs have

believed, it is rarely the father who takes responsibility for a child, and interventions in this

area are best focused on mothers.


When broken down into the two age groups, the only significant difference was a large

reduction in those who live with both parents in the older youth group (11% only). This

follows from the previous item where we learned that older street youth are less likely to

have both parents together than younger children.

Finally, respondents were asked how many siblings they had. The range was wide, some

having zero and some having upwards of 10 siblings. The average number of siblings was

4.25 for all those interviewed.

Education

Interviewers asked respondents questions about their educational attainment. Simplified

from the 2007 survey, the children and youth were asked whether they were attending

school at present, what class level they were in or had reached, and which school, if any. Of

the 127 who responded to this question, 81% claimed to not be attending school, while 19%

said they were still attending. The 2007 census had markedly different results, as 49%

claimed to be still attending school and the remainder not. As the street population has

been somewhat reduced between the two censuses, it is possible that street children still

attending school have been a major part of the reduction. If this is the case, the current

street population, which mostly does not attend school, probably represents children and

youth who are more hardened and more difficult to return to home and school. Not

surprisingly, of the 46 youth 18 years and older who answered this question, only one was

still attending school while 45 had dropped.

As shown by the chart above, most of the street population turns to the street sometime

between standard two and standard seven. Only two youth interviewed had made it to

secondary school. This confirms what was assumed before, that primary schools are the


ideal place to concentrate drop out prevention programmes. Specifically, interventions

should be targeted towards younger primary school classes to prevent as many children as

possible from going to the street. In addition, Government agencies should encourage

schools to keep children in school until 5pm in order to stop them from loitering on the

streets.

Respondents were also asked which school they attend or did attend. There were 124

responses to this question, covering a wide range of schools. The figure below shows the

most common responses.

It is interesting to compare these results to those of 2007. Though there were many more

street children and youth in the previous census, it is instructive to compare proportions. In

2007, three schools stood out as contributing the most children and youth, accounting for

16% each: St. Patrick’s Primary, Garissa Road Primary, and Kianjau Primary. These three

schools all mainly draw students from Kiandutu Slum. Since that census, AfCiC has

increased the number of beneficiaries in its school feeding programmes at Garissa Road and

St. Patrick’s, and Macheo Children Centre have cemented their school feeding programme

at Kianjau Primary. As shown below, these three schools have all reduced their percentages

of associated street children and youth. School feeding is one of the most cost effective and

simple ways to retain pupils in school and keep them off the street. This data seems to back

up the observations of teachers who say that these feeding programmes have been very

effective.


One school that saw its percentage of associated street children and youth rise was Upendo

Primary. Upendo was a school in Kiandutu that closed down in 2004, leaving many children

without an obvious school to attend. This illustrates the long-term danger for vulnerable

children whose schools close, some of whom can be found on the streets many years later.

Street Life and Survival

The respondents were asked questions about how often they went to the streets, and how

they survived there. When asked how often they went to the street, 85% said every day

and 14% said several times a week. One person claimed to go to the street less than once a

week and 1 person also reported it being his first time. When broken down by age, 94% (50

out of 53) of youth over 18 years reported going to the street every day. Somewhat fewer,

79%, of children under 18 years reported going every day. The fact that so many of those

interviewed go to the street every day or at least a few times a week adds evidence to the

view that those on the Thika streets in 2009 are more hardened, difficult cases.

The census also examined where street children and youth sleep. This statistic is very

important in determining the nature of the population. The results are below.


The majority of those interviewed, 58%, sleep on the street all or some nights. Only 19%

report sleeping at their family home regularly. One interesting figure is that, when broken

down by age, 18% of youth report sleeping somewhere with friends, while only 4% of

children report the same. Some older street youth have found a way to earn a small

amount of money on the street with enough regularity to combine their funds and rent a

small room to sleep in. This further confirms that older street youth have significant

differences in their habits, and require different types of interventions.

There are major differences in the sleeping habits reported in 2007 and those of 2009.

Most strikingly, the percentage of those sleeping on the street every night rose from 16% to

45%, and the percentage of those sleeping at home dropped from 56% to 19%. Again, we

believe that those surveyed on the streets in 2009 are more serious cases.

One very important piece of information garnered by the census was how children and

youth acquired money for food while on the street. There are several different methods of

getting money, from collecting scrap metal and plastics with value and selling them, to

begging, to doing small tasks for merchants, to commercial sex. The results are shown

below. Since many street children and youth get money in several different ways, the

percentages total more than 100%.


It is clear from the results that collecting scrap metal, begging, and “other” were the most

common ways to get money. There were many different “other” responses, but by far the

most common was carrying luggage for people coming to and from the market, which is also

a major transport center. These results are similar to those of 2007, where begging and

scrap metal were also the most common methods. The Street Children Steering Committee,

having viewed these results, is in the process of reaching out to scrap metal dealers asking

them not to buy from children under 18 years.

Older street youth tended to do less begging and carrying of luggage, and more collecting of

scraps to earn their money. This may be because of trust issues, and the fact that the

general public is more likely to feel sympathy for a younger child who is begging. One piece

of information this census did not collect was the level of crime among street children and

youth. We thought it would be very difficult to get accurate information about this subject,

and so left it off the survey, but the information would have been interesting to review.

Problems on the Street

Interviewers asked about problems that children and youth encounter on the streets.

Expected responses included drug taking, beatings, arrests, and health problems. Most

street children and youth take different drugs in order to escape pain, cold and hunger, and

also to fit into street culture in response to peer pressure. We believe that it is most

important to address the root cause of the problem (children and youth living on the street)

rather than the symptom (drug abuse). Nonetheless, it is instructive to know how many

children and youth are taking drugs, and this knowledge can also demonstrate the urgency

of helping the street population.


As shown above, 70% of those interviewed reported taking drugs. As the percentages show,

many are taking multiple drugs at once. The most common habit is sniffing glue, which is

done by almost half of those interviewed. Most of the “other” responses indicated smoking

cigarettes, which should be a category of its own on the next census. When not addressed

early, these drug habits can develop into addictions and lifelong problems. Compared to

the 2007 census, the percentage of street children and youth reporting drug taking has

increased from 36% to 70%. We believe this has occurred for two reasons. First, as

mentioned before, the street children of 2009 may be fewer in number but more severe in

their habits; the sample has changed somewhat. Second, we believe that the accuracy of

our data on this question has increased. Interviewers used in 2009 were more experienced

youth workers who often knew particular children personally, and therefore had a better

rapport and a more honest interview.

Coming into conflict with law enforcement and being arrested is another common problem

street children and youth face. Just as 70% of children and youth are doing drugs, 70% also

reported that they had been arrested at least once. This number, largely unchanged since

2007 (73%), is alarming. Either street children and youth are turning to crime to survive or

they are becoming easy scapegoats and targets for police, being accused of crimes they did

not commit because of their low social status. The breakdown of arrest outcomes is below.


As we can see, many arrests do not advance

beyond spending some nights in a police cell,

but this can still be damaging in many ways.

It can cause psychological and physical harm,

and can also damage children’s reputations

among the families, schools, and peers to

whom they may some day wish to return.

The fact that by the time a street child

reaches the age of 18 his or her chances of

arrest rise to 94% emphasizes the need to

intervene early. It is also important to work

with the police, sensitizing them on street children’s issues and even building some

relationships between police and the street population where possible.

Beatings are another problem on the street. Whether administered by police, fellow youth,

merchants, or anyone else, beatings are part of daily life for the street population. These

beatings are very dangerous, and have resulted in death for street children in Thika in the

past. As shown below, 72% of those interviewed had been beaten, and not surprisingly the

results varied by age. The fact that 43% of those interviewed had been beaten by the police

highlights the importance of the police sensitization and dialogue discussed above.


NGO Assistance

After gathering other information, the

interviewers asked respondents if they had ever

received assistance from an NGO before and

what assistance they were given. About 78% of

those interviewed had actually received some

assistance from an NGO. This is a major

improvement from 2007, when only 35% said

the same. From an AfCiC perspective, there has

also been major improvement as 57% said they

had received AfCiC help, up from 20% in 2007. The response breakdown is shown left.

The types of assistance children and youth

received are also shown here. The figure

shows that 76% of those on the streets of

Thika today have recieved either school

help or residential care. However, these

interventions have not been successful for

these particular children and they have

returned to the street. The NGOs

operating in Thika should understand that

no matter how successful they are, there is

always room for improvement in their

programming in order to reduce recidivism.

The low 13% who had accessed skills

training represents an area for expansion, especially in light of the responses when children

and youth were asked what they would like to do in the future.

Future Assistance Desired

We asked respondents what types of assistance they would like to receive in the future.

The District Children’s Office, Ministry of Youth Affairs, and relevent councils, along with

Children’s NGOs have a responsibility to help children who have been left behind by society

and now find themselves living on the street, without the basic necessities of a decent life,

and without the tools to build a better future. NGOs and these Government bodies can

provide certain types of assistance that can help these children get what they deserve. The

types of assistance desired are shown below.


The largest area of desired assistance was skills training, with

44% expressing this desire. When combined with those who

desire to get employment or start businesses, fully 67% of those

who responded desire assistance in the areas of business and

work. This is much more than 2007, when only 20% expressed

these wishes. Another 38% also requested school related

assistance, showing that school feeding, education and drop-out

prevention programmes remain very important. Like other shifts

from 2007, the increase in the percentage requesting work-

related assistance may indicate that the street children and youth

in Thika today are farther removed from school, more used to

street life, and more difficult to help. The average age of those

requesting the different types of assistance is shown here. It is

important for the Government and Children’s NGOs in Thika to

understand that children and youth of different ages have

different problems and desires, and require different types of

assistance.

Desired

Assistance

Average

Age

Other 20

Skills

Training 19

Job or

Business 19

School 12.5

Home 12.5

Residential

Care 9


Conclusions and Recommendations

The 2009 Street Census was very informative for the organisers and it continues to be a

valuable biannual research tool for strategizing about the best methods of reducing street

children in Thika. The census significantly increased our knowledge of the vulnerable

population we work with, enabling us to further develop and tailor our programmes

specifically towards the unique needs of street children and youth. We value this as a tool

for making our interventions as effective as possible. Some of our conclusions are below.

Demographic Shift

Comparing the results from this census to those of the 2007 census, we are struck by a

series of shifts. First, the number of street children and youth has decreased by a large

degree (approximately 40% to 50% reduction). We believe that the interventions carried

out by different children’s organizations in Thika in the last 2 years have significantly

contributed to this reduction. However, those who remain on the street appear to be much

more serious cases, and will likely be more difficult to assist. Important statistics for those

remaining on the street include:

• The proportion attending school fell from 49% to 19%

• The proportion sleeping on the street every night rose from 16% to 45%

• The proportion sleeping at home fell from 56% to 19%

• The proportion taking drugs rose from 36% to 70%

• The proportion who were on the street despite receiving NGO assistance rose from

35% to 78%

• The proportion wanting to return to school fell from 60% to 38%

• The proportion wanting work-related assistance rose from 20% to 67%

From this evidence it seems that there is a population of street children and youth who are

more hardened to street life and who have less interest in returning home and to school.

They are older as well (see next section). Different strategies, especially those that are work

and employment-related, are a priority for this group.

Older Youth

Another trend made clear by the census, and one that may be related to the shift

mentioned above, is that a distinct class of older youth is present. When comparing results

of those under 18 to those 18 and above, we find that the older “youth” group are: more

likely to be from slums, more likely to be orphans and less likely to have their parents

together, almost certain to have totally dropped school, almost certain to have been

arrested, very likely to have been beaten, may sleep in a rented room with friends, and are

more likely to want work-related assistance or “other” assistance rather than more

traditional school, home, or residential care. The under 18 group still outnumbers the older

group, so it is important for NGOs and other stakeholders to have strategies to address both


populations, and to be aware that the interventions that are likely to help a 14 year old may

not be effective for a 19 year old. AfCiC and some other NGOs have already begun to offer

skills training and business loans to older street youth.

Recommendations for Action

We have identified the following recommendations for action in our collective effort to

assist street children and youth.

• Age and gender data tell us that the majority of those on the streets are boys

between the ages of 10 and 18, so prevention efforts should be concentrated on

boys this age and younger.

• Because most street children and youth in Thika are from slums, especially Kiandutu,

we should increase partnerships and prevention work in these places.

• The majority of street children and youth do have a guardian, so we should explore

ways to make guardians more responsible for their children. Reunification work with

guardians should be increased, with less reliance on children’s homes.

• Orphans and those with separated parents tend to stay on the street longer and

become more hardened cases, so we should explore ways to mitigate these effects,

with mediation as a possibility for keeping parents together.

• Some children can not go home and children’s homes are constantly overcrowded,

so we should explore ways to increase adoption and foster parenting as solutions for

certain children.

• Almost all of those on the street leave school between Standard 2 and Standard 7, so

we should continue our prevention work in the lower classes of primary schools.

Also, Government should encourage schools to keep children in school and off the

streets until 5 pm without extra payment, not releasing them earlier.

• School holidays are when many children go to the street due to lack of food or

activities at home, and lack of money to pay for school tuition. We recommend

Government sponsored facilities for children who can not afford to pay extra tuition

during school holidays.

• Since 2007, the decrease in street children from St. Patrick’s Primary, Garissa Road

Primary, and Kianjau Primary shows that feeding programmes are good ways of

preventing children from going to the streets. School feeding programmes should be

spread to more vulnerable schools in the area.

• Most street children and youth collect scrap metal, carry luggage, and beg to survive.

We should conduct advocacy and awareness campaigns to scrap metal dealers and

the general public to not employ children or give them money, as this only keeps

children on the street.

• Many street children and youth have been arrested and/or beaten by the Police. We

should increase Police sensitization and dialogue between the Police, street

children’s stakeholders, and the children themselves.

• The majority of those interviewed had already received some NGO assistance that

had failed. NGOs should strive to improve the quality of their programming

whenever possible, to ensure maximum success rate.

• The census has given us a number of children and youth to work with, but more

arrive every day. School feeding programmes, drop out prevention work, and school


holiday activities have demonstrated effectiveness in keeping children off the

streets. There are also a number of measures that Government could take to keep

children off the streets, such as keeping children in school until 5pm, not charging

extra tuition at school holidays, and making school uniforms non-compulsory.

• Government, NGOs, and the private sector must all cooperate and share

responsibility in this effort.

Future Research Recommendations

We have identified the following recommendations for improving the next street census

and gaining more information from the current one:

• It is thought that, when faced with problems, boys are more likely to leave home for

the street and girls are more likely to put up with hardship at home. When girls do

run away, they tend to gather in social places like hotels, and sometimes engage in

commercial sex. We recommend a separate, smaller study on the nature and size of

the female sex trade population in Thika, perhaps organised by a girls-focused NGO.

• A small focus group of children and youth surveyed in this census would help gain

clarity on several issues. First is the issue of parental separation, as the figure of 11%

of respondents with separated parents was widely disbelieved by the census

organisers. Second, we would like information on the impact of multiple marriages

and remarriages on children’s likelihood of running to the street. Finally, a look at

the level of theft and other crime as a means of survival among street children and

youth would be useful.

• Having “Where do you sleep?” and “Who do you live with?” as separate questions

can be confusing, and creates opportunities for contradiction. This should be

redesigned on future surveys.

• “Collecting vegetables” and “carrying luggage” should be included as options for

making money on the street. Many of those who responded “other” were engaged

in these tasks.

• In future surveys, the questions “Why did you go to the street?” and “How long have

you been on the street?” should be included. This is crucial information that has

been included in previous surveys but was left off this one.

• In future surveys, we should ask older street youth if they are the parents of any

children of their own.

• We recognize that many children on the streets of Thika come from Kiandutu slum.

We also know that there are many children on the streets of Kiandutu that do not

come to Thika. The next census should include Kiandutu itself as part of its coverage

area.

We believe that this street census will be a useful tool in conducting important work for

vulnerable children. We would like to once again thank everyone involved for their diligent

efforts. It is our sincere hope that the next street census will show that we have learned

from this information and made significant progress towards our goals.

09 census report

Documents