NAIROBI, Kenya – The Ministry of Labour and Social Protection is pushing for an additional Sh300 million in funding to strengthen efforts to rehabilitate street children across Kenya.
Social Protection Principal Secretary Joseph Motari told the National Assembly’s Social Protection Committee that the current budget is inadequate, limiting the reach of the Street Families Rehabilitation Trust Fund.
“We have not been able to fully capture our children on the streets, and that is why we are requesting more money,” said Motari.
Despite receiving Sh200 million for the program last year, the ministry argues that the rising number of street children necessitates an extra Sh100 million.
However, under the 2025/2026 Budget Policy Statement, only Sh150 million has been allocated, leaving a Sh149 million deficit.
In addition to rehabilitation efforts, the ministry is also seeking Sh200 million to monitor and evaluate its programs, as well as to improve security at rehabilitation centers.
Officials warned that encroachment on government-owned land meant for these programs poses a serious challenge.
A major project requiring funding is the construction of a perimeter wall around the Street Families Model Institution in Mavoko, a facility designed to offer shelter, education, and skills training for rescued children.
According to estimates from the Consortium of Street Children (CSC), Kenya has between 250,000 and 300,000 street children, with at least 60,000 in Nairobi alone.
Globally, the United Nations places the figure at 150 million, underscoring the urgency of intervention.
The ministry now awaits parliamentary deliberations on its budget request, as it seeks to expand support for one of the country’s most vulnerable populations.
