Business operators in Nairobi have expressed concern over the growing threat street children in the Central Business District (CBD) are posing to their ventures.
Tusky’s Bus Station branch manager Fredrick Aringo expressed that dangerous street boys have been camping outside the retail outlet and are scaring customers away.
"Recently, they cornered a customer who was from the supermarket and snatched Sh1,000 from her. Do you think she will come back to shop here again?" he asked.
The Tuskys manager noted that they had severally urged City Hall to act but no action had been taken.
Motorists say that they can no longer leave their vehicles without having someone around to ensure the vehicles' safety.
"Before, we could leave vehicles in the queue unattended and go to a café or run some errands as we wait for our time to carry passengers. But today, a car must have someone to guard it or they will pluck the side mirrors," one of the drivers expressed.
However, when put to task over the menace being posed by street children, Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero said: "The county government does not give birth to street urchins and they are not there because of action or inaction of the county".
"They come from various parts of the country and the county government does not have funds to repatriate them to their respective families and even if it had, it would be a violation of their rights because everyone has freedom of movement, " The Star quotes Kidero.
A section of Kenyans has scoffed at the Governor’s explanation, noting that during US President Barack Obama's tour in Kenya, the City Government was able to ensure the street children were out of the CBD.
