Kirinyaga residents decry increased crime as street families harass traders and pedestrians

Residents of Ngurubani town in Mwea-east sub-county, Kirinyaga County, have raised concerns over the rising number of street children in the area.

According to the residents, more than  200 children roam the streets near Ngurubani matatu stage , Kwa Maina, and  Soko Mjinga areas in Ngurubani town.

"The glue-sniffing street children harass pedestrians demanding money and food," Philliph Njogu, a boda boda operator at Ngurubani matatu stage, said.

Anthony Munene, a matatu sacco member, said a local trader has been giving the children glue, adding that they need to be rehabilitated, rather than left to sink further into despair.

"The man who supplies the children with glue is a boda boda operator. He tells them to harass pedestrians for money and at the end of the day, he goes back to the children and forcibly takes the money they have collected," he said.

Peter Wanjohi, a trader, called on the county to install security lights, adding that businesses are forced to close early for fear of being targeted.

Munene called for the arrest of the boda boda rider.

With the number of street children increasing  by the day, residents are accusing the local leaders,  the county government of Kirinyaga, and the national government of failing to act.

"We informed our area MCA about the issue and he informed the police, who came and chased the street children away,  but we want a permanent solution. The children need to be rehabilitated," Munene said.

"We are patrolling this town 24 hours and we have discovered that street children are part of a gang harassing the locals. We are on them  as they are causing a nightmare to the locals," Mwea-east sub-county police commander Mohammed Jarso said.