A step of faith: The experiences of street children in search of survival in Nakuru City, Kenya and its implications on policy

Abstract

AbstractLiterature on street children has documented the life of street children in four phases: at home, on the streets, in child care institutions and post institutionalization. However, the journey to the streets has not received sufficient scholarly examination. This article documents street children's experiences in search of survival in Nakuru City, Kenya. The study adopted a qualitative research design with Nakuru City being purposively selected as an emerging city and a fourth city in Kenya with the highest number of street children. Data was collected from 14 purposively street children through in‐depth interviews and analysed thematically. The study demonstrates unique experiences of the journey to the streets and recommends policy development that guarantee survival and protection rights. We conclude that the desire for survival generates resilience in children that powers them through the journey to the streets.