Children abandoned after parents sent to Dadaab camp

More than 200 children are living in misery in a Kasarani estate after their parents were sent to a refugee camp a month ago.

The children, who include babies as young as four months, have been surviving on occasional handouts from neighbours since their parents were taken to Dadaab Camp, which already hosted nearly half a million refugees, on May 7.

Most of the children living in houses in Maji Mazuri Estate are being care for by other children aged between eight and 10.

“Their parents were taken away from the Antiorchia Church where they were worshipping on May 4 and told that they were being taken for screening at the Kasarani Stadium,” a church member, Albert Muragizi, said.

“Police took 166 Congolese nationals, mostly from the Banyamulenge tribe. They came with one huge lorry and loaded them onto it,” he said.

The refugees were rounded up at the peak of Operation Usalama Watch, an exercise meant to flush out illegal aliens.

The police, Muragizi said, did not allow them to go back to their homes where the children were. Some of the children were in Sunday School class. Police told them they were just going to be screened and that they would return.

“They were kept at the Kasarani Stadium for three days and on May 7, they were told they would be taken to the Dadaab refugee camp,” he said.

That day, the refugees protested at their separation from their families and fought the police.

“Police had to use teargas because they were rowdy. They even hurt one officer,” Kasarani police boss Augustine Nthumbi said.

Police spokesperson Gatiria Mboroki said police were aware that children were left behind but don’t know where they are.

“Anyone who knows where the children are should inform police at the Kasarani police station. They should show us where they are so that the necessary steps are taken,” Ms Mboroki said.

But the refugees are afraid to go to the police station for fear of being arrested.