Abstract:
The phenomena of street children have taken global attention due to the increasing number of children the streets. The increase has been explained in terms of push and pull factors. Private and public agencies have developed social assistance programmes (SAPs) with a view to providing social assistance to the street children so as to improve their well-being. The SAPs have yielded mixed results with some children successfully rehabilitated and others running back to the streets. This study sought to evaluate the performance of these SAPs in improving the well-being of street children in Nakuru Town Kenya. Specifically, the study sought to assess the efficiency, examine the relevance, examine the effectiveness and explore the constraints of SAPs in improving the well-being of street children. The study was anchored on the theory of change and the theory of constraints. The study used survey research design and a multi-stage sampling method. The total number of research participants was 289. Data was collected using structured interview method, semi-structured questionnaires, in-depth Interviews, Focused Group Discussions (FGDs), key informant guide and structured non-participant observation, taking cognizance of various ethical consideration. Data was analyzed both descriptively and inferentially to determine relationship between the performance of the SAPs and improvement of the well-being of the street children. Descriptively, measures of central tendency and cross tabulation was used. Qualitative data was analyzed thematically using Qualitative Data Analysis (QDA) Miner Lite. Inferentially, the data was analyzed using Chi-Square, Phi Coefficient and Cramer’s V test with aid of Scientific Package for Social Science (SPSS). The findings of the study indicate that there is a weak, positive and statistically significant relationship between efficiency of SAPs and improvement of well- being of the street children. In addition, the levels of relevance measured against secondary outcomes yielded weak, positive and statistically significant association. Further, the study established that there is a non-statistically significant association between effectiveness, relevance and improvement of the well-being of street children. In addition, the study identified programmatic, institutional and individual child related constraints. Despite the constraints, the SAPs have improved the well-being of the street children and contributed to the realization of Vision 2030, African Union Agenda 2063 and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGS). The study recommends an expansion of the definition of vulnerability as espoused in the Policies and Legislation to accommodate children on the streets as beneficiaries of social assistance
