Kenya
Since 2016, The Route Sixty One Foundation has consistently supported the work of the Directorate of Children’s Services by equipping and sending a team of Kenyan mentors and social workers to help disadvantaged children in the juvenile justice system.
The team currently provides activities and support to eleven statutory children’s institutions (SCIs) in Nairobi and Western Kenya.
They are based in the lakeside city of Kisumu.
Featured Video
Watch this short video to learn more about our work with children in the juvenile justice system and see the team in action.
The Juvenile Justice System
Through partnership with the Chaplaincy of Children’s Services, we seek to help children in the juvenile justice system reconcile with their families and return to a safe and nurturing home environment where they can thrive.
When a child is under a custodial sentence, we encourage and promote a sense of hope—helping them build and maintain healthy connections so that the family welcomes them home when the time comes.
Children may be placed in a statutory institution for care and protection, or they may be placed there if they are accused of or found guilty of committing a crime.
There are 31 institutions Nationwide
Divided into the following four categories:
Remand Home
Children in the court system await judgment and, if found guilty, are sentenced. The time a child spends within a remand home depends on how long the court process takes. We have known children stay for a few weeks up to seven years. Children may also be placed here for their care and protection.
Rescue Centre
These centres provide emergency care and protection for orphaned and abandoned children up to six years of age and vulnerable girls, many of who are the victims of sexual abuse.
Reception & Assessment
Reception centres offer short-term residential care, during which each child is assessed before being relocated to an institution that provides appropriate care or security.
Rehabilitation School
Children serve their custodial sentence at a Rehabilitation School. The most significant sentence a child may receive is three years. These schools often provide education and, in some cases, life skills training.