This week, deeply upsetting news has emerged from Nairobi. Kenyan media have reported the burial of 15 street children, a tragedy that has shaken families, communities and the organisations working to support them.
At the same time, our partner Pendekezo Letu (PKL) has shared news of a separate and equally heartbreaking incident involving two boys, aged just 16 and 17 who had been participating in a Toybox-supported project. According to information gathered by PKL outreach staff, the boys are believed to have been shot during a disturbance in their neighbourhood. Their families are still searching for their bodies.
These two boys are not among the 15 children reported in national news. Together, these losses reveal a stark and painful truth: street children remain deeply vulnerable to violence, neglect and systemic failure.
Reflecting on the situation, Toybox’s Programme Manager for Africa and Asia, Smita Khanijow, shared:
“The devastating news of the burial of 15 children in Nairobi is both shocking and heartbreaking. It starkly exposes the extreme vulnerability faced by street-connected children and young people globally and needs collective action to safeguard their social and economic security.”
Responding with compassion and urgency
Even during this difficult time, PKL’s team has taken immediate steps to support affected families and contribute to a wider response.
Charles Kamande, representing PKL, has been invited to join a new joint fact-finding initiative: the ‘From Street to Strength’ Forum, a collaboration between civil society organisations and the Government of Kenya. The forum, chaired by the Principal Secretary for Children Services, held its first meeting on the 10 February 2026. In the days ahead, the group will:
- mobilise 500 street children and young people to share their experiences and concerns directly with government leaders
- visit children’s bases in Nairobi to ensure decision-makers witness conditions firsthand
- examine early findings and raise systemic issues affecting street families
This collaboration offers an important opportunity to reinforce concerns raised through the Toybox supported ‘Wezesha’ project, where PKL continues to document the significant gaps affecting children on the streets.
A representative from PKL commented,
“The loss of these lives is a profound tragedy that underscores the urgent need for a coordinated, compassionate response from both the state and civil society. We are working tirelessly to ensure that no more children fall through the cracks of a system that should be protecting them.”
A wider, systemic issue
The PKL team have emphasised that these incidents are not isolated. Instead, they reflect long standing challenges experienced by children who live and work on Nairobi’s streets, including:
- Exposure to violence, both within their communities and through state responses
- Lack of access to health care, safe shelter and education
- Discrimination and social exclusion
- Limited or no safety net when crises occur
While organisations like PKL are working daily to support families and children, a sustained and coordinated approach is urgently needed at national and county levels to protect street children and prevent further tragedies.
Standing with our partners
These events have been difficult for PKL staff, who have been deeply affected by the loss of two boys. Despite the situation, their commitment has not wavered. They continue to provide psychosocial support to children and young people on the streets, while also contributing to the wider investigation and advocacy process.
Why we’re sharing this
Toybox was founded more than 30 years ago because people refused to look away from violence against street children. Since then, together with our partners and supporters around the world, we have seen extraordinary progress. Children are accessing education, families have been reunited and young people are gaining confidence and being heard. But this moment is a painful reminder that too many children are still at risk.
By sharing what is happening in Nairobi, we hope to:
- raise awareness of the dangers street children continue to face
- amplify the voices of partners like PKL who are advocating for change
- encourage understanding and solidarity at a time of grief and uncertainty for the affected families and communities
We will continue to update supporters as the situation develops, and remain committed to standing alongside street children and communities.
Find out more about our work in Kenya
Pictured above: Young people in Nairobi listen to PKL staff as they talk about identity documents and the process of obtaining them.
