'I sleep with one eye open to keep my babies safe'

The morning routine of feeding babies, changing their diapers and preparing them for the day ahead looks much the same in any home.

But this is not true for homeless mothers, struggling against systemic barriers, economic hardships, and the fear of raising a child without a place to call home.

Many of these women have lived on the streets for more than five years. For most, the streets were a last resort. They cite parental neglect, extreme poverty, domestic conflicts, and tragedies as key factors that drove them into homelessness.

Sadia Muhamoud, mother of four–a boy and three girls–explains how tragedy after another left her with no other choice, other than the streets of Mathare.

.

Keep Reading business

•  Blow to KRA as court halts implementation of new organisational structure
•  Kenya Re goes global with new life insurance unit
•  Experts urge adoption of solar for reliable, sustainable power
•  Govt eyes a million jobs in two years via digital content hubs
•  Power struggles that threaten to tear UoN apart Premium

“My husband died in 2024 after he was hit by a car as he was coming from the mosque. He did not have a brother or a sister, only his mother who doesn’t want to see me,’’ Sadia explains.

“A few months later, fire razed down everything I had. I only managed to save my television set, three days later my sister died and I buried her. In less than a week, my other sister died,’’ she continues

Mary Nyambura, who lives in the streets of Githurai, also explains how domestic conflicts drove her to homelessness.

“I always feel ashamed to go back home after I stole money from my mother. The other day, I was informed that she is unwell but I don’t have even money to go see her,” she said.

Better Care Network (BCN), an organization working in this space, said poverty is one of the biggest driving forces behind the rise of street children in developing nations.

Rose Musau, mother of three said that she left for the streets home because getting food, clothes, education and proper shelter was a problem. For these mothers, food scarcity is a constant battle.

“We go around the market looking for food remains, bananas or even mangoes from dustbins and dumping sites or beg from well-wishers,” Nyambura explained.

However, without access to clean food, basic sanitation, no place to bathe, change clothes, or use restrooms, personal hygiene becomes a challenge, leading to serious health concerns.

“The whole of December, I was admitted at Mama Lucy hospital, my baby was sick, a social worker helped me get out of the hospital”, Nyambura says.

Sadia recounts how they have had to wait for Thursdays when sisters of a nearby catholic church offer them water, to bathe with her babies.

The 2018 National Census of Street Families Report estimated that Kenya had 46,639 street persons. Of these, 21,550 were aged between 10 and 34 years, while 15,752 were below 19 years.

The report highlighted a stark gender divide: 72.4 per cent were male, while 27.6 per cent were female.

The streets offer little to no protection. These mothers endure physical violence, harassment from individuals and law enforcement, exploitation, and sexual violence.

“I sleep in the midst of all sorts of drunkards with my three girls. I have to stay awake the whole night to protect them, the other day one of them almost got raped. I screamed and others woke up and the culprit ran away,” Sadia explained.

Ruth Kawira, also a mother on the streets of Mathare said: “Police officers were chasing and beating us, my five-year-old boy was left with a broken arm and I was left nose bleeding and with bruised hands. My baby cannot sleep at night due to pain from his arm, and he doesn’t want to take medicine.” 

For their children, the risks are even greater. Living in unsanitary conditions, they are more susceptible to illness, malnutrition, and getting lost or worse, losing their lives.

For these families, education also remains a distant dream for their children, as none of them goes to school due to lack of essentials. Beyond the physical challenges, there is an emotional toll that is equally devastating. However, among the organizations working to bridge the gap is Zero Street Foundation, which provides basic necessities and social support to homeless mothers, men, and children.

Peter Ndiboe, the founder, describes street families as the most neglected members of society, receiving little to no support from both national and county governments.

“The government has done much to support these people, the burden falls on us, taking them to hospital when they fall sick, or when they give birth or when something bad happens to them or their babies,” Ndiboe said.