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Are street children beyond rehabilitation? Understanding the life situation of street boys through ethnographic methods in Nakuru, Kenya

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  • Kaime-Atterhög, Wanjiku
  • Ahlberg, Beth Maina

Abstract

This paper describes the social organisation of street boys, the complexities and dilemmas of accessing them for interview, and removing the youngest and most vulnerable from the streets. The data were collected from three groups of street boys over a period of eight months: 20 "market boys"; four "plastic bag sellers" and their group leader; and twelve "begging boys" and their group leader. The study employed a reflexive ethnographic approach with participant observation, informal interviews and group discussions as data collection strategies. A participatory workshop was arranged for the highly mobile "begging boys" who could not be interviewed directly on the streets. Key informants helped in gaining access to the three groups of street boys, providing "insider information" about the boys and their contexts as well as in building trust. Through this research process, a deeper understanding of the street culture emerged, showing who the street boys are as well as how they are organised, their hierarchies and socialisation; patterns of substance use, home spaces in the streets, and networks of support.

Suggested Citation

  • Kaime-Atterhög, Wanjiku & Ahlberg, Beth Maina, 2008. "Are street children beyond rehabilitation? Understanding the life situation of street boys through ethnographic methods in Nakuru, Kenya," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 30(12), pages 1345-1354, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:cysrev:v:30:y:2008:i:12:p:1345-1354
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Kombarakaran, Francis A., 2004. "Street children of Bombay: their stresses and strategies of coping," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 26(9), pages 853-871, September.
    2. Kaime-Atterhog, Wanjiku & Lindmark, Gunilla & Persson, Lars-Ake & Ahlberg, Beth Maina, 2007. "Burning "Centre Bolt": Experiences of sexually transmitted infections and health care seeking behaviour described by street boys in Urban Kenya," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 29(5), pages 600-617, May.
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    Cited by:

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    2. Stuart C. Aitken & Thomas Herman, 2009. "Literature Review on Qualitative Methods and Standards for Engaging and Studying Independent Children in the Developing World," Papers inwopa09/63, Innocenti Working Papers.
    3. Ashenafi Hagos Baynesagn & Etsegenet Hailu Tolla, 2022. "Poor Mothers and Begging: How Impoverished Ethiopian Women Support Their Children in the Absence of a Strong State Welfare System," SAGE Open, , vol. 12(2), pages 21582440221, April.
    4. Embleton, L. & Shah, P. & Gayapersad, A. & Kiptui, R. & Ayuku, D. & Wachira, J. & Apondi, E. & Braitstein, P., 2021. "Recommendations for improving access to healthcare for street-connected children and youth in Kenya: A qualitative study," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 131(C).
    5. Harris, Melissa S. & Johnson, Knowlton & Young, Linda & Edwards, Jessica, 2011. "Community reinsertion success of street children programs in Brazil and Peru," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 33(5), pages 723-731, May.

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