Yetu Counselling and Psychotherapy Centre in Kericho County called for greater community support for the dignity street-families during the  Mashujaa Day celebrations.

The centre organised the Shujaas Touching Street Children (STSC) 2026 event to give street-connected children and their families an opportunity to participate in national celebrations and feel valued in society.

Speaking during the event at Sambu Academy in Nyagacho, Kericho, the Centre’s Executive Administrator, Bethel Kosgei, said the initiative sought to address the exclusion faced by street-connected children while encouraging the community to take collective responsibility for their welfare.

Kosgei expressed concern over the limited response from organisations, wholesalers, supermarkets and churches approached to support the celebration, noting that addressing the growing number of street children required practical action rather than complaints.

He said the centre planned to establish the Yetu Rescue Home by December 2026 to provide shelter, food and other basic necessities to vulnerable children.

The proposed rescue home is expected to complement the center’s community outreach programmes by offering sustained support to children in need.

The event brought together approximately 90 street-connected children and family members, against a target of 100, under the theme: A Mashujaa Day of Dignity, Care and Hope.”

Organised in partnership with Nishkam Projects and Highlands Primary School, the celebration featured feeding, basic healthcare, games and entertainment, creating an opportunity for the children and their families to experience care, dignity and a sense of belonging.

Meanwhile, Nishkam Saint Puran Singh Institute (NSPSI) Principal David Nyambuto pledged sponsorship opportunities for young people from vulnerable backgrounds seeking practical skills to improve their employment prospects.

Nyambuto said the institute joined the initiative after Yetu approached it with a proposal to celebrate Mashujaa Day with street-connected children and their families, ensuring they were not excluded from the national festivities.

“Yetu approached us and told us they would like to celebrate Mashujaa Day with the street children and families and make them feel valued. That is how we came in to support Yetu so that the children can feel that they belong. Normally, they don’t get that chance,” he said.

He added that Yetu would help identify eligible beneficiaries for sponsorship to acquire practical skills at NSPSI, giving them an opportunity to improve their employability and build better futures.

The organizers called on individuals, businesses and institutions to support vulnerable children through donations, sponsorships and volunteering, stressing that improving their welfare required sustained collaboration.

The initiative highlighted the importance of extending the spirit of Mashujaa Day beyond honouring national heroes to recognising the dignity and potential of vulnerable children, ensuring they too have opportunities to participate in society and build better lives.

By Monica Irua