Member of the Uasin Gishu County Assembly on Tuesday, March 19, 2024, adopted a report that contains several recommendations concerning allegations of abuses at the Eldoret Children’s Rescue Centre.
The report was presented on the floor of the house by the Committee on Labor, Gender, Social Protection and Children.
It is chaired by Moi’s Bridge MCA Patrick Kimeli.
The report was developed after members of the committee visited the rescue centre and interrogated its officials as well as officers from the Department of Gender and victims of alleged torture at the county-run facilities.
Among the recommendations that MCAs adopted include the DCI to investigate the alleged rape and pregnancy of one of the children at the rescue centre.
The MCAs also asked the relevant department to set up a task force to investigate claims of abuse of residents by county enforcement officers at the facility.
In addition, the committee recommended the development of policies that will guide the operation of the Eldoret Children’s Rescue Centre.
“Rescue centre should be for persons under 18 years. Anybody above 18 years should be transferred to a rehabilitation centre or police for prosecution,” read one of the recommendations adopted by the MCAs.
Registration of the Eldoret Children’s Rescue Centre
There have been concerns that the Eldoret Rescue Centre was no longer serving its purpose, due to the detaining of individuals who were adults.
Another key recommendation in the committee’s report is the need for the county enforcement officers to be accompanied by police officers in their operation.
They also recommended for the audit of all donations received by the centre from well-wishers to ensure prudent use.
The MCAs also directed that rescue centres be registered. They tasked the county to agree on whether the facility should be registered as a rescue centre, charitable children’s organization, remand home or rehabilitation school.
For the last few months, there have been claims that the rescue centre was being used as a holding place for street children and individuals arbitrarily arrested by county askaris.
Claims of brutality at the facility led to the MCA taking up the matter for investigation.
Speaking after the report was adopted the Moi’s Bridge MCA expressed confidence that their recommendations will help enhance services at the rescue centre.
“Today I will sleep in peace knowing this matter is now resolved. That facility helps many children and it would be wrong for us to demonize it,” the MCA said.
“When we call it Shakahola, it has an effect because donors who see such a name will stop giving their support and those being housed there will suffer,” he added.
The report will now be forwarded to the county executive for implementation.
