Mr.Jaluo the Matete AAC Chairperson adressing parents and caregivers during the launch of Children Rights Protection Campaigns[PHOTO|Joseph Amunya|Westfm]

Stern measures will be taken against caregivers in charge of orphaned children who have misappropriated funds donated by the government to help orphans and vulnerable children in Matete District.

Addressing parents and caregivers during the launch of Children Rights Protection Campaign held in Chevaywa Location, the District Area Advisory Council chairperson Mr. Jackson Jaluo Murunga said that most caregivers had converted the bi-monthly stipends provided by the government toward improving living standards of orphaned and vulnerable children into personal use at expense of orphans who he noted were now going through hard times in the area.

 Mr. Jaluo added that it was disheartening to note that some of the orphans under OV-Cs programme were out of schools and leading miserable lives while roaming in villages after being abandoned by the said caregivers who he accused of illegally continuing to receive stipends from the government yet they were not fending for the children.

“Most of the orphans in this area have been chased away from homes by people purporting to be caregivers. Most of them are now loitering around the villages looking for food and shelter,” said Jaluo.

The official further noted that most young orphaned girls had resorted into early marriages due to negligence by their caregivers.

He appealed to the government through the department of children to carry out an audit assessment in order to ascertain how the OV-Cs funds have been spent by caregivers in the District adding that those found to have misused the funds must be arrested and taken to court.

 Elsewhere a community based organization has decried increasing cases of child abuse in Matete district and called on the residents to value and protect children’s rights.

 According to John Kariuki, Nucleus Children Fund director, his organization has previously intervened and saved over 120 children from abuse since the beginning of this year alone.

A part from sexual harassment, he said stigmatization was also an emerging problem adding that close to 40 cases of stigmatization have also been recorded by his office in the last six months.

He said his organization was planning for an aggressive sensitization campaign on Child Rights and other associated privileges.

At the same time he said his organization had managed to offer scholarships to over 30 children from poverty stricken families to continue with their education in both primary and secondary schools.