Autopsies on street children found dead across Nairobi have revealed that pneumonia was the leading cause of their deaths, officials confirmed.
Pathologists conducting postmortems at the City Mortuary on Thursday also discovered that starvation and physical injuries contributed to some of the fatalities. In several tragic cases, children were reportedly killed by mobs after being accused of theft.
Over the past month, police recovered atleast 15 bodies from alleys and streets and transported them to various city mortuaries, including City Mortuary and Mama Lucy Hospital. Ten of the children were laid to rest at Langata Cemetery during an emotional burial ceremony, attended by other street children and volunteers.
Philanthropist Agnes Kagure coordinated the burial, calling on Nairobi authorities to overhaul how the city cares for its most vulnerable children. No government officials attended the ceremony, and the Children’s Department did not deliver any remarks.
“Our children deserve safety, care, and dignity. It is heartbreaking that so many have died from preventable causes,” Kagure said.
Pathologists reported that lung infections linked to pneumonia affected most of the bodies, while one victim had drowned. The deaths have raised urgent concerns about the welfare of Nairobi’s homeless youth.
The tragedy highlights the urgent need for comprehensive interventions to protect street children from disease, hunger, and violence, advocates say.
The post Pathologists Reveal What’s Killing Nairobi Street Children appeared first on Bossnana.
