New push to rehabilitate street families as population census begins June 29

A fresh nationwide census targeting street families will begin on June 29, 2025, as the government intensifies efforts to strengthen interventions and support services for individuals living on the streets.

The exercise, announced by the Street Families Rehabilitation Trust Fund, comes seven years after the last count was conducted and is aimed at giving the government an updated picture of the current situation to inform policy and funding decisions.

The 2018 census, jointly conducted by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) and UNICEF, revealed that 46,639 individuals were living on the streets across Kenya.

Nairobi had the highest number with 15,337, followed by Mombasa at 7,529 and Kisumu with 2,746.

Officials say the upcoming count will provide crucial insights into the scale of the challenge today and help in reshaping national strategies for rehabilitation.

While reading the national budget statement last week, Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi announced that the government had allocated Sh180 million for the Street Families Rehabilitation Trust Fund in the 2025/2026 financial year.

The move was welcomed by stakeholders who say up-to-date data is essential in achieving results.

Mary Wambui, Chair of the Street Families Rehabilitation Trust Fund, said the census will assess both the population and status of street families across the country. She said the exercise will guide more targeted and effective responses.

“The census will also help the government develop a more effective plan to address the rehabilitation and financial needs of this population, as the current resources are inadequate,” she said.

Wambui stated that the government remains committed to the long-term goal of ensuring that Kenya is free from street families.

As part of the plan, the agency has already acquired a 20-acre parcel of land, which will be used to set up a rehabilitation centre to support the reintegration of street families.

According to Board Member Ahmed Hussein, the upcoming count will not only reveal the current number of individuals living on the streets but also demonstrate the progress made in recent years through ongoing rehabilitation programmes.

“The government has already released Sh50 million to 24 institutions involved in the rehabilitation of street families to facilitate their initiatives,” Hussein said.

The upcoming census is expected to serve as a benchmark for tracking the success of the country’s rehabilitation efforts and support institutions working with vulnerable groups. With government data playing a central role in budget allocation and policy planning, the exercise is likely to influence future approaches to the growing concern of street families in Kenya.

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