Influence of rehabilitation strategies on reintegration: an analysis of former street children in Kitale town, Trans-zoia county, Kenya

Abstract

The number of street children has been on the rise globally despite the interventions put in place by different organisations. Although Kitale town has many caregiving institutions and is located in an agricultural-rich neighbourhood, the number of street children has risen like in many other towns. This study sought to determine the influence of rehabilitation strategies on the reintegration of former street children in Trans Nzoia County. The study's specific objectives were to establish the rehabilitation approaches adopted by rehabilitation centres, examine the patterns of reintegration in relation to rehabilitation approaches of former street children, and investigate the challenges in the rehabilitation and reintegration process of former street children. The study was guided by relapse prevention theory which examines the practical adaptation of street children in a new environment. The literature was reviewed as per the study objectives. A descriptive survey design was used with a mixed method of data collection. The study targeted 734 former street children who had benefited from rehabilitation and reintegration programs in Kitale town and its environs. Multiple sampling techniques, specifically systematic simple random technique, were used to select respondents and purposive sampling to select caregiving organisations with rehabilitation and reintegration programs. Taro Yamane's formula was used to select a sample of 259 from both institutions. Questionnaires, focus group discussions, and interview schedules were used to obtain data from respondents and key informants. Quantitative data was analysed using SPSS Version 25, while qualitative data was analysed using emerging themes. Ethical issues of consent, confidentiality, anonymity, and freedom of participation were observed. The study established a positive relationship between rehabilitation strategies and reintegration in which most former street children are positively engaged and prefer to remain at home than return to the streets. The study concludes that Rehabilitation strategies impact the reintegration process, and thus they should be continuously evaluated and redesigned to improve their impact on reintegration. Lack of food and job opportunities emerged as the main challenges facing former street children at home. The study recommends more investments to uplift the parents' living standards and scholarships to support the school-going, reintegrated street children.