The Liberation Of Youth In Crisis In Kabete Juvenile Remand Home, Nairobi
Date
2003
Authors
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Journal ISSN
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Publisher
Tangaza University College
Abstract
It was in August 1999 that I came to Nairobi - Kenya for my theological
studies at Tangaza College. I had been in Embu, teaching at Don Bosco Boys'
Secondary School in Eastern Province. The majority of the students were from
nearby families while a few were from distant homes. I was enthusiastic while
teaching those boys considering that there will be a future for them. As a young
Salesian, I got consolation that what I was doing was right and fulfilling my desire
of working among the youth.
When I came to Nairobi, I immediately entered into another field of
apostolate. Out of curiosity and interest I asked for permission from my rector to
work with the street youth at Kabete Juvenile Remand Home. Fortunately, I was
given the opportunity to work there together with one of my companions on
weekends as a normal apostolate schedule.
My first day in Kabete Juvenile Remand Home was the last Sunday of
August 1999. 1 was taken up by many realities. First, I thought the building structure
looked like a prison. It was square shaped in appearance with one narrow iron gate
and four small rooms. I was informed later that those four rooms were the
dormitories. A number of boys were staying inside three of the dormitories while
girls occupied one. On our arrival, we met one of the social workers who was on duty that day and he allowed us in the courtyard. As we were standing introducing
ourselves, I started to become restless because of the effect of the odour around the
place.
After a few minutes the boys and girls were released from the dormitories
and they came out. Most of them looked shy and appeared as if they were criminals.
They were in khaki uniforms. The majority of them were really shabby, if not all,
and stank because of the dirty clothes they were wearing. As we greeted and started
shaking hands with them one could easily notice the dirtiness around their hands,
faces and other visible parts of their bodies. It appeared that they rarely took a bath
because of the shortage of water. Some of them had rashes on the body and they
kept scratching themselves while looking at us.
It was a shocking experience for me. Deep inside, I was asking several
questions. Some of those questions remain in me and I am still searching for
answers today. For instance, I asked myself, why is the place like Kabete Juvenile
Remand Home been called 'Home' at all? Why should the children aging 6 — 18 be
locked in the so called 'dormitories' during the day hours, the time they are
supposed to be studying in the classrooms, playing or interacting with other children
around their families? Why should the children be forced into a congested place
where they endanger their lives by contracting sicknesses from each other? What
happened to their parents and is there any possibility of changing their lives and
becoming like the youth whom I taught in Embu?
The above questions, among others, have forced me to reflect more on those
children. The situation has led me to take the Kabete Juvenile Remand Home youth
to be a pastoral issue that has to be faced not only by me but also by the entire society. Yes, those youth need social liberation. According to the African
Agreement on Rights of Children rule number 19, states that, (my translation) every
child has the right to enjoy the care of its parents. There is no child who is supposed
to live far from the family except where it is stated so by the law for the welfare of
the child. I
Description
Keywords
Liberation, Youth In Crisis, Kabete Juvenile Remand