A section of Religious leaders in Uasin Gishu County has appealed to the government to allocate some of the underutilized public land for the establishment of children’s homes.
Led by Uasin Gishu Gospel Ministers Fellowship chairman Bishop Wilson Kurui, the clergy say children’s homes play a critical role in helping the needy in society.
Speaking at the Jesus Love Ministry Children’s home during a visit by a section of members of the business community in Eldoret, the clergy noted that most of the children’s homes struggle to pay monthly rent on the land to occupy hence the need for the devolved units and national government to come to their rescue.
“We have many idle lands all over the country. Rather than that land remaining idle, part of it can be given to children’s homes so that decent places can be established,” said Bishop Kurui.
Better environment for vulnerable children
The clergy is also the director of the Jesus Love Children’s Home.
“Some landlords may decide to lock the homes when one delays to pay the agreed fee. But what happens to these children under such circumstances? That won’t be an issue if we were to be allowed to set up such a facility in a public land,” he noted.
The Jesus Love Ministry Children’s Home hosts at least 100 children with different backgrounds.
Rev Christine Kurui, the children’s home manager says some of the children they host were picked from the streets, others had been left abandoned, some are orphans while others were rejected by their families.
“Since we started this facility, we have been able to help over 150 children that have since been released. Many have been able to transform their lives, some have completed school, others are in university and others have their jobs,” Rev Kurui said.
As of December 2021, there was still an estimated 40,000 children in 830 children’s homes across Kenya.
Most of the children home’s are run by private and religious organizations.
