Construction of a Child Protection and Development Centre at Emali/Mulala Ward by the County Government of Makueni is nearing completion, Department of Gender Director Jane Makau has disclosed.
Mrs. Makau said that the centre will have a capacity of 60 children which will include 30 boys and girls respectively while adding that currently the kitchen, dormitories and classrooms and administration block are being equipped.
The construction works are complete, we are now equipping the dormitories, kitchen, administration block and classrooms,” Mrs. Makau said during the County Gender Sector Working Group (CGSWG) meeting held at a hotel in Wote town.
She further noted that a bore hole and classrooms have been equipped with solar power while adding, they are targeting street children who roam in towns across the county.
“Many children are loitering in the streets of major towns in Makueni County. The burden of taking them to Mukuru Promotion Centre Nairobi or Muli Children’s Family Home in Yatta, Machakos will be no more,” she said.
Consequently, the director revealed that the children loitering in the streets, was as a result of poverty afflicting many families in the county. She noted that such children will be taken to school and ensure they acquire education.
Mrs. Makau revealed that the children’s centre was constructed on five acres of land donated by Makueni Governor Professor Kivutha Kibwana. She also said that the centre will be commissioned soon.
During the meeting, members expressed their concern over increasing cases of gender-based violence (GBV) in the county and agreed to deal with the vice through a multi-agency approach to reduce the cases.
They noted that many incidents were being abetted in Kibwezi, Kilungu and Mbooni East Sub-counties in the area.
By Patrick Nyakundi
