"ONE DAY GOD WILL BLESS ME AND MY NAME SHINE"
Out of a thousand heads, probably three of you will be touched enough to feel the sympathy and throw a coin or two to do away with them.
But, do they deserve this? Were they given a chance to choose? What about their parents, are they alive? If yes, why do they neglect them? These are question that need instant answers since street boys and girls population are elevating overnight!
Some of these young kids had no option but to be on the streets. To raise their tiny hands to get something to consume for the day. Folks, this is not the kind of life one would want to be associated with let alone living. But someone has to do something before it becomes an impending disaster.
Some of these young kids had no option but to be on the streets. To raise their tiny hands to get something to consume for the day. Folks, this is not the kind of life one would want to be associated with let alone living. But someone has to do something before it becomes an impending disaster.
Born sixteen years ago, Boniface Andae is a class eight drop out. A young innocent boy never knew that one sunny day, he'll be roaming in the outskirts of Nairobi pleading for sympathy from serious guys chasing their dreams.
However, he had no option but to do it. His father, a man who has the mandate to offer protection to his blood son is a super drunkard. His mother separated with her husband, Boniface's father, and re-married.
He shows me a small carton which he calls a bed and a home. In school, he tells me, he was the best in drawing. He has won a number of awards after competing with his classmates. Teachers and sponsors gave him pipe promises which was never to be.
"God might have made me be this way but he blessed me with a gift. The gift of drawing. I know one day he'll bless me and make my name shine as a result of art."
Boniface sat for his KCPE exam last year and scored 258 marks out of 500. He was happy to pass his exams and maybe his father would be wise enough to hustle and help a hand in making his dream
become a reality.
Sadly, he chose the bottle over his on blood. Today, Boniface is one of the toddlers you meet on the streets thanks to his parents.
They said when you go to Rome, do what the Romans do. He found himself walking without shoes. He started emulating his colleagues so as to get something from people he don't know.
To him, anywhere is home so long as darkness finds him there. As long as he gets somewhere to lay his back and close his eyes even if it's for some minutes. Every night as he looks at the stars, since he doesn't sleep under a roof, he wishes. A wish, he tells me, will one day become a reality and he'll be able to conquer the world and be the best of the best.
Caroline Obuya, a Nairobi resident, tells me that she usually dashes out something small when she has something. Sometimes she decides to just pass the ever increasing kids who are supposed to gain knowledge somewhere in a classroom.
What worries many people, I included, is that such young kids engage themselves in drugs. The most used drug in their drugs toolbox is the glue.
According to Dr Hirmoge, such drugs causes disorder to their bodies since they aren't old enough to accommodate them. They reach a point of standard growth where the drugs affects the growth of these toddlers. Their developmental milestone is highly affected.
The glue has gone mainstream among the young street folks. It has a lot of chemical processes. It passes industrial works with toxicant- organic solvents like benzyl.
The normal child growth of these young men and women is no more. Some end up having mental disorders because of drugs.
Boniface is hopeful that one sunny day he will rise and became a house hold name through art of drawing. It's sad that he's going through hardships but he has no otherwise.
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