Mwingi deputy police boss Leonard Baini yesterday blamed the rise in the number of street children on neglect by parents. Speaking to the press in his office following a crackdown on the street children, Baini said the parents are breaking the law by letting their children roam the streets instead of going to school.

"These children have parents who sent them to beg in the streets and take the money home in the evening. We have found out that some of these parents use the money to drink and not to buy the children food," he said.

The police boss said some lazy parents force their daughters into prostitution. He said the street children have resorted to stealing handbags from women when they are not given money. Baini asked Mwingi Town Council to invoke its bylaws and sweep the streets of the urchins.