This archive report was first published on 25 July 2021.
On July 14, 2021, a 14-year-old boy, known as Kamkono, died at the Médecins Sans Frontières clinic in Mathare, Nairobi, while undergoing treatment for Covid-19.
According to a medical report, Kamkono's death was confirmed at 1:20 hours, with no cardiac activity or pulse, and dilated pupils.
His colleagues claimed he died of hunger, and his colleagues held a demonstration at the City Mortuary to protest his untimely death.
Street families under the Zero Street Child Foundation mourned Kamkono's death and accused the Government of abandoning them, saying they have been deserted and left to fend for themselves.
Speaking outside the mortuary, Fatuma Shahenza, who read the statement on behalf of the foundation, said, 'As street families, we have been deserted. This boy died of hunger not anything. As a parent, I am in pain to see and hear this. The government told us no one will die of hunger and that they will help us get shelter, but they have not done so.'
Shahenza also faulted the Government for 'mistreating the street families by asking them for birth certificates to get identification cards.'
The foundation's officials demanded education for the street families, saying while the government offers free primary education, the street families lack access.
According to the 2019 census, Nairobi has the highest number of street people at 6,743, with 679 being women.
In December 2020, the government through the Street Families Rehabilitation Trust Fund chairperson Lina Jebii Kilimo said it intends to establish a national policy aimed at providing a systematic and sustainable framework for rehabilitation of the street families in Kenya.
