The Seventh Day Adventist Church church in Naivasha is helping to feed and clothe the increasing number of street families in the town.
The numbers have risen sharply in two years as many people have lost work, jobs and breadwinners in the Covid-19 pandemic.
High poverty levels and unemployment have contributed to increasing crime and prostitution.
The plight of street families emerged when members of the SDA Church started to feed and clothe the families.
While observing Global Youth Day in Naivasha, members of the church noted said the families have been forgotten by the state and members of the public.
Reverend Peter Aruya, who is in charge of the church in Nakuru county, said many young people were engaged in crime, drug use and sale and prostitution.
“We have decided to feed and clothe these families who have been forgotten by society, leading them to engage in illegal activities," he said.
Aruya also called on youths not to be exploited by politicians during election campaigns, as has been the norm.
“As a church, we are not supporting any side in the elections but we shall not stand back and watch as our youths are misused,” he said.
Jared Masonga who said that they were using the day to reach out to the less fortunate.
He noted that the pandemic had hurt many people, pushing some families into the streets, hence, the move to support them.
“We have decided to move in and address the direct challenges like food, shelter and clothing while giving them homes in these hard times,’ he said.
Church member Beatrice Mwende said that they wanted to bond with the families as the public had shunned them due to their status.
She said girls and women on the streets were sexually exploited by men as they sought to raise money for food for their families.
“After this we shall make sure we follow up on their status and even invite them to church as one way of rehabilitating them,” she said.
(Edited by V. Graham)
