Officials from the County Government led by County Executive for Education, Sports and Social Protection Leah Audan today returned four children from Uganda who had been rescued for reunification with their families.
The children, between 3-9 years, were rescued and hosted at the Lodwar Children Rescue Centre where they were treated and taken care of in the period before their reunification.
The team were received by Moroto District Senior Probation and Social Welfare Officer Lochodo who expressed gratitude from the Government of Uganda for the care extended to the children.
He explained that the children abandoned their homes following reported cases of abandonment by their parents due to poverty.
“We are really grateful to our Kenyan team for having a heart for the children and everything you do. The steps taken in the children’s rehabilitation are wholesome and are exactly what we do. We have confirmed that the children are safe and healthy,” he said.
He admitted that the drought situation had contributed to cases of children fleeing their homes but assured that the government was working to provide more support.
CECM Audan said the gesture to rescue the children and return them to their family was an indication of the good relations between the County Government of Turkana and Uganda.
“We the Kenyans and Ugandans are one thing and we have to put our differences aside and unite. The children were taken care of by a woman in Kenya as her own and we recognise her as our hero of the month,” she said.
The County Executive added that the Kenyan team was keen to follow up with the children to ensure they were handed over to the rightful authorities. She asked Ugandan authorities to find a way of finding the mother of the children and address the reported case of domestic violence which led to her abandoning the children.
She delivered the Governor’s message of commitment to the peaceful coexistence of Ateker communities. She urged residents from the two countries to pursue peace for sustainable development.
Lotisan Sub County LC3 Chairperson John Robert Akik informed the team that officials had tracked down the parents of the children and expressed his joy that the children had finally been returned.
He asked for the strengthening of such coordination between government officials and asked for support from partners for the children’s education.
Other Senior County officials present included Chief Officers Janerose Tioko (Education and Social Protection) and Stephen Eregae (TVET and Sports) Ag. Director for Social Protection Idoka Hebrews Ignatius, Assistant Director Social Protection- Children Services James Ekanyuku, among others.
