NAIROBI, Kenya — The Ministry of Gender, Culture, and Children Services has launched an inquiry into the deaths of several street children and homeless people in Nairobi, amid growing concern over a surge in fatalities among street families in the capital.
Cabinet Secretary Hannah Cheptumo said the ministry is working closely with the Nairobi City County Government to verify reports, confirm the identities of the deceased, and establish the circumstances and possible causes of death, including whether injuries, illness, or neglect were involved.
The move follows the burial of nine homeless people at Lang’ata Cemetery last Thursday, an incident that has drawn public attention to the risks faced by street families amid harsh living conditions.
The burials were part of a broader pattern in which at least 15 homeless individuals are reported to have died across different parts of Nairobi in recent weeks.
“The office has received reports of bodies that were collected from the City Mortuary (Nairobi Funeral Home), alleged to be of street families,” Cheptumo said in a statement.
“The office is working with the Nairobi City County to gather information to verify the reports. This will help confirm the entry date of the body, source, gender, and possible cause of death, including but not limited to physical injuries.”
Cheptumo noted that street families remain exposed to extreme vulnerability due to cold weather, disease, violence, hunger, and alleged discrimination when seeking medical care, factors that significantly increase mortality risks.
The Cabinet Secretary’s statement incorporated findings from the Street Families Rehabilitation Trust Fund, a state agency under the ministry established in 2003 to support destitute and vulnerable populations in urban areas. The trust fund is chaired by former Othaya MP Mary Wambui.
According to the trust fund, all nine individuals buried at Lang’ata Cemetery were male adults, except for one infant estimated to be about three months old.
However, the agency said no post-mortem reports or medical documentation had been made available to confirm the causes of death.
“It is also possible that some of the bodies belonged to unidentified individuals who had remained in the mortuaries for an extended period and were due for disposal in accordance with standard procedures,” the trust fund said, as quoted by the Nation.
The agency further stated that it had not been informed of the burials or deaths at any stage, raising questions about coordination among government departments.
“The circumstances under which the deceased were admitted to health facilities or placed in mortuaries remain unclear and can only be clarified by the Ministry of Health and Nairobi City County,” the trust fund added.
The deaths have sparked criticism from civil society groups and activists, who accuse the State of failing to protect vulnerable children and homeless populations.
Activist Boniface Mwangi said the fatalities reflected systemic neglect, arguing that state intervention remains critical for survival.
“As a former street child removed from the streets in 1995, I would likely be dead today if I had not been arrested, taken to court, and committed to an approved school,” Mwangi said.
While Cheptumo said the government has intensified public sensitisation and expanded rehabilitation programmes for street families, stakeholders and rights advocates argue that short-term interventions are insufficient.
They are calling for comprehensive reforms that prioritise access to housing, education, healthcare, and sustainable income-generating opportunities to address the structural causes of homelessness.
The inquiry is expected to inform further action by the government as pressure mounts for accountability, improved inter-agency coordination, and stronger safeguards for Nairobi’s most vulnerable residents.
