4.

1 Introduction
This section contains presentation, interpretation and analysis of the discoveries from the
information gathered from the field in line with the predetermined objectives. The data was
collected through personal interaction with different respondents in regards to family socio-
economic status on the increment of street children in Kawangware, Dagorretti sub county.
The research questions framed the subjects along which the analysis is done. The researcher
presented the data in different categories. They include the background information of the
street children and the next category is the information related to how family’s socio-
economic status contributes to the rising number of street children.
4.2 Questionnaire respondent
The researcher issued a total number of 60 questionnaires in the strata that were covered
during the study. Out of the 60 questionnaires issued to the respondents, 40 questionnaires
were returned adequately filled. According to Mugenda and Mugenda (2003) state that for
the purposes of a particular study, a 50% return is adequate, 60 % return is relatively good
while 65 % and above is considered very good. Since the study achieved 66.67 % return rate,
this is substantially sufficient for data analysis, presentation of findings and making
conclusions.
4.3 Demographic information
The respondents were from the streets of Kawangware. These included the gender, age, place
of residence, level of education attained and marital status and nature of parents’ marriages of
the respondents. Part of the background questions asked was significantly helpful in the
classification of the data analysis during the study. The demographic information of the
respondents is discussed below and summarized in tables indicating frequency and
percentages.
4.3.1 Ages of the respondents
The data was collected from a sample of 40 children living in the streets of Kawangware. The
data shows that the respondents found in the streets were aged between 9-17 years. 15% of
the sample population was aged 9-12 years, 45 % was aged 13-16 years and 40% was aged
17 years and above. From the data I collected, it agreed with the study done by Onyacha
(1999) study based on street children in major urban centres in Kenya since they fall in the
same age bracket.
I asked the respondents their ages and their responses are as shown in figure 4.1
Age Frequency Percentage

9-12 years 6 15

13-16 years 18 45
17 years and above 16 40

Total 40 100
The table above shows the distribution of ages of the respondents. Majority of the
respondents were aged between 13- 16 years.

Table 4.3.2 Education levels of the respondents

From the data that I collected, there were 12 children, 30 % who have never attended school,
24 children, 60 % have reached the primary school level and 4 children, 10 % reached high
school. Also, from the sample, none of the children has ever attended college. These findings
agree with Khamala’s (2000) that most of street children go to the streets to look for a job
because there is no money for education, uniform and activity fee. The information is as
represented in table 4.2
Table 4.2
Education levels Frequency Percentage

Not attended school 12 30

Primary school 24 60
High school 4 10
Tertiary college 0 0
Total 40 100

4.3.3 Gender of the respondents

The study involved both male and female respondents. Male respondents were more than
female respondents. During my data collection period, I noted that the number of girls was
small. Mostly, girls were not seen in the streets during the day. Majority of boys were seen in
the streets during daytime. They engaged in activities such as fetching water, car wash, and
carrying luggage. Females said they mostly appeared at night because that’s when they work.
They said they earn a living from doing sex work.
The gender of the respondents is as recorded in table 4.3
Table 4.3
Gender Frequency Percentage

Males 26 65

Females 14 35
Total 40 100
4.3.4 Current residence of the respondents
I put a question to know where the respondents were located. According to the response, 6
children lived at home but came to the streets during the day but in the evening, they would
go back home, 24 children lived fully in the streets both daytime and at night. They eat and
sleep on the streets. Their parents do not know where they are and what types of life they are
leading in the streets while the children try to take on a new identity. 10 children responded
saying they stay in the streets and at times go home if they want again, they may run from
home and go back to the streets.
The information is as presented in Table 4.4
Table 4.4
Residence Frequency Percentage

Home 6 15
Streets 24 60
Both home and streets 10 25

Total 40 100

4.3.5 Marital status and nature of parents’ marriages of the respondents

In the questionnaire, the researcher was able to put a question across to gather responses on
the status of the respondents’ parents’ marital status and the following were the findings. 30
street children came from single parent families , 26 headed by their mothers while 4 headed
by their fathers. 6 indicated that their parents were alive but they had separated and 4 stated
that their parents were married in a polygamous family. From the data above, it is a clear
indication that majority of street children come from households headed by single mothers.
These findings agree with a study conducted by Aptekar and Ciano-Federoff (1999) in Kenya
which concluded that street children generally come from homes headed by single mothers.
4.3.6 Occupations of parents’ respondents.
A question was put across to gather responses on the street children parents’ way of earning a
living. The responses were as follows; 20 respondents’ parents were unemployed, 6
respondents’ parents earned a living by begging, 12 respondents’ parents are hawkers and 2
respondents’ parents depended on friends and relatives. None of the respondents’ parents
were employed.
The information is as recorded in Table 4.5
 Occupation Frequency Percentage

Hawking 12 30

Unemployed 20 50

Begging 6 15
Depending on relatives 2 5

Total 40 100

The data collected above agrees with Aptekar (1988), study which stated a large number of
street children left their homes for financial reasons.

4.4 Socio-economic status

This section contains information on how socio-economic status contributes to increment of
street children.
4.4.1 Poverty
The researcher also used interviews to know about their families’ status before they left home
to the streets to measure poverty. The researcher posed a question in relation to the number of
meals they usually have in a day and the results were; 20 respondents said they take one meal
a day and 10 respondents said they take two meals a day. No respondent took three meals a
day and from the data collected, also 10 respondents indicated no meal was provided to them.
The data is as presented in Table 4.6
Table 4.6 Number of meals taken in a day.
Number of meals Frequency Percentage
No meal 10 25

One meal a day 20 50

Two meals a day 10 25

Three meals a day 0 0

Total 40 100

4.4.2 Reasons why respondents left school

The researcher interviewed those respondents who had attended school but left before
finishing so as to get more insight as to why they left school. From the data that the
researcher collected, 12 respondents left school due to lack of school fees, 12 respondents left
school due to lack of food, 6 gave their reason for leaving school as the environment at home.
They said the environment was not conducive. 4 left due to lack of motivation , 2
respondents gave their reason for leaving school as lack of school materials such as uniforms,
books etc and 4 respondents said they left school because of peer pressure from their friends.
Table 4.7

Reason for leaving school Frequency Percentage

Lack of school fees 12 30
Lack of school materials 2 5
The environment at home 6 15
Lack of food 12 30
Lack of motivation 4 10
Peer pressure 4 10
Total 40 100

4.4.2: Child abuse

Child abuse from the family was also another factor that accelerated the number of street
children in Kawangware.
The respondents stated that they received emotional abuse from their family members. Most
of the children also faced child labour, physical abuse and sexual abuse was also experienced
by some respondents. I also noted that most of the children had so many scars on their bodies.
Some were still fresh while others had healed.
The respondents said that they were physically abused by their family members hence the
scars. Some children also said they felt neglected by their caregivers because they were not
being provided emotional support when they needed it the most.
From the data collected, some respondents were forced by their caregivers to look for work
so as to bring some coins at home. Some male children said they had to look for work in
construction sites while ladies washed clothes for people, and others even ended up being
househelps.
4.4.3 Family structure
Family structure was also another factor that contributed to the increment of street children in
Kawangware. From the data that I collected; most children came from single parenthood.
This information agreed with a study done by Onyango (1999) where he noted that the
children on the street come from single parent families, mainly single mothers with limited or
no support network
Also, some children ran away from home to the streets because of the hostility of the parents.
Some stated that their parents were authoritative and they never listened to their children.
When the controlling becomes too much, they decide to run away.
The researcher also noted that some of the children came from families where the parents
were alcoholics and drug users. Due to this, they would become irresponsible and even
violent. Irresponsible in such a way that the parents didn’t give attention to them. This led to
anger which made them run away from home.
4.5 Summary
This chapter comprises the presentation and discussion of the findings from the research. The
researcher collected the data using various data collection instruments such questionnaires,
interviews and observations. The work was organized according to the research questions.
This chapter contains tables that summarise the data.
4.6 Conclusion
The reason for carrying out this research was to know the effects of family’s socio-economic
status on the increment of street children in Kawangware. From the data that was collected,
the researcher came to a conclusion that there is a relationship between the family structure,
poverty, child abuse, and the number of street children in Kawangware.
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY OF FINDINGS, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
5.1 Introduction
This chapter presents a summary of the research findings, brief discussion, conclusion and
recommendations. The findings are organized in accordance with the study objective which
include; how poverty in the family can contribute to the increment of street children, how
child abuse from parents can contribute to the increment of street children, and how family
structure contribute to the increment of street children in Kawangware. Chapter one dealt
with the background information to the study, statement to the problem, objectives of study,
research questions, the significance of study, limitations of the study delimitations of the
study and assumptions of the study.

In chapter two, a review of the literature was conducted to aid understanding of the subject
matter in details. The chapter also presents the conceptual framework and the theoretical
framework adopted by the researcher where the dependent variable was increment of street
children while independent variables were effects of family’s socio-economic factors like
poverty, child abuse and family structure.

Chapter three outlined the methodology that was used in the study and the research design
used. The study was conducted in Kawangware sub county using stratified sampling
technique. The chapter also highlighted the targeted sample size of the population and
procedures used.

Chapter four contain details of data analysis as collected in chapter three. The data was
organized into meaningful information after the analysis and presented in accordance with
objectives of the study.

Chapter five presents a summary of all findings organized per objective of the study. A
detailed discussion is also presented in this chapter alongside the relevant conclusions.
Finally, the study recommendations and suggestion for further studies are captured in this
chapter.

5.2 Summary

The main aim of the study was to determine the effects of family’s socio-economic status and
how it contributes to the increment of street children. The study was carried out in
Kawangware, Dagoretti sub-county , Nairobi county and focused more on the slum area .
Three objectives were formulated to guide the study. The survey was administered through
descriptive survey through self -administration of questionnaires.

The objectives guiding the study were; to assess how poverty in the family can contribute to
the increment of street children, to establish how child abuse from parents can contribute to
the increment of street children, and to establish and assess how family structure contribute to
the increment of street children in Kawangware. The research questions include to what
extent has poverty in the family can contribute to the increment of street children, in what
ways has abuse from parents contributed to the increment of street children, and what is the
influence of family structure on the increment of street children in Kawangware.

5.2.1 Discussion on findings

The first objective intended to establish how poverty contributes to the increment of street
children in Kawangware. The data indicated that most of the respondents came from poor
background families where they were not provided with sufficient basic needs like food. 50%
of the respondents only ate one meal a day and the meal was only found in small quantity and
after a struggle. They also are not able to get a balanced diet. Whatever little food they got;
they were forced to share that among the siblings in the house. 25% of the respondents
indicated that they were not able to get any meals at home at all and they would only get
something to put in their mouth only if a neighbor or a well-wisher gave them. 35% of the
respondents stated their reason for leaving school was because of lack of school fees and
school materials. Most were in public schools and they were only required to pay a small
amount because they were receiving free education but still, they were not able to raise that
amount. Also, they were unable to get school materials like school uniform where some said
that once they outgrew their uniforms, they were unable to buy new ones while others said
they got one uniform when they joined and in cases where they got torn, they were unable to
get new ones thus forcing them to leave school. They were also unable to buy exercise books
which they could use to do classwork. 60% of these respondents reached primary school as
their highest education level. Most of them reached class 5 and class 6. This study indicated
that many families cannot put food on the table with children suffering most and in most
cases some children take to streets with hope of getting enough from begging and scavenging
in the dumping sites. And despite them doing tiresome work, many poor people still go to bed
each night with their basic needs unmet.
The second objective was to establish how child abuse from parents contribute to increment
of street children in Kawangware. From the research, the researcher noted that most of the
children were emotionally abused from their caregivers where by they would be insulted by
their parents, their ideas were never put into consideration thus making them doubt their
feelings, thoughts and sanity.

These children were also physically abused by their parents and they even had scars on their
bodies. Other scars were healed while other scars were still fresh. The respondents reported
that they were physically beaten by their parents when they refused to do some tasks or if
they did and it was not a satisfying job to the parents. Some tasks that made them experience
the physical abuse were mostly house chores like washing clothes and utensils. Other
respondents faced child labour where they were forced to go and work in construction sites
and some girls commented saying their parents forced them to go be house helps in order to
earn a coin. This was supported by Forastleri (1997) study on factors leading to child abuse in
Africa. He noted that the causes underlying child abuse are poverty, insufficient or
unbalanced economic growth and structural adjustment program.

The third objective was to assess how the family structure contributed to the increment of
street children in Kawangware. From the data, most street children came from single female
headed family where the mothers were mostly unemployed and those who were employed
earned little or no money at all to provide for the family. Most street children come from
single families where they stated that it was as a result of divorce, separation or death of
one’s parent. Due to this, economic hardships led them to look for means of survival thus
making them run away from their home to the streets to look for livelihood. Also, the
researcher noted from observations that respondents were not happy with home environment
and preferred street for home. Most of the respondents said it was because the environment at
home, their parents were abusive, that there was lack of responsibility on part of the parents,
family conflicts in families where the family was polygamous. Some of the street children
who were in polygamous families left their home in search of independence and self-
realization because they could not practice that at home. Also, most of the children stated that
they had hostile parents who exhibit anti-social behaviour. Some said in their families at
home, their parents are hostile and authoritative, they don’t get to listen to them and instead,
they give demands to them. Most of the time they felt the care is not enough and the
controlling from the parents is too much and thus running away from home to find
themselves. The respondents stated that when they are in the streets, they become
independent and free to move wherever they want unlike when they are with their
authoritative parents who tell them what to do each time.

Also, the respondents commented on as to why they came to the streets and some of them
said that after losing their parents, the landlords chased them away by locking their houses
due to rent debts that had piled up after their parents died. This forced them to go to the
streets and look for shelter and also earn a living.

5.3 CONCLUSION.

The study examined how the family’s socio-economic status contributed to the increment of
street children in Kawangware, Dagoretti sub county. The study was successful in obtaining
relevant data and information in accordance with the stated objectives and the research
questions formulated before the commencement of the research. Following the study findings
and the discussion that followed above, the study conclusions are as follows:

To begin, poverty has an influence on the increment of street children in Kawangware. The
study indicated there is a relationship between poverty and the increment of street children.
The respondents were not able to access the basic needs that they needed and this was due to
poverty in their families.

Additionally, family structure also has an influence in the increment of street children. The
parenting styles of parents, the family lifestyle, the head of the family all influenced the
increment of street children in Kawangware.

Finally, child abuse also has an influence on the increment of street children. Children who
were emotionally and physically abused were seen to more likely be on the streets.

5.4 Recommendations

To combat the school drop out rate, the government through ministry of education should
ensure there is effective free and compulsory education for all children.

Also, most children lacked food and thus, the government should work closely with NGOs to
provide feeding programs so as to feed the children.
Counselling programs should be introduced to help parents unlearn bad parenting styles and
learn healthy ones

5.5 Suggestions for further studies.

The study focused on three socio-economic factors in the family that influence the increment
of street children. It is suggested that further studies be conducted to address other factors that
influence the increment of street children.

Also, a research should be done on why there is a high rate of divorce and separation in
Kawangware.