A Nairobi County official’s determined effort to save a young boy from the streets has hit a heart-wrenching setback after the child, known as Mike, disappeared again, highlighting the daunting challenges of rehabilitating Kenya's most vulnerable youth.

Geoffrey Mosiria, a well-known Nairobi Chief Officer, had personally invested in Mike's future, rescuing him from a life of sniffing jet fuel on Kirinyaga Road. This story is more than one boy's struggle; it's a mirror reflecting a city grappling with an estimated 60,000 street children and a system struggling to cope.

A Cycle of Hope and Despair

Mosiria first encountered Mike in December 2024, finding him "barefoot, hungry, silent with confusion." He enrolled the boy in school, where teachers noted his immense potential and desire to learn. Despite this promise, Mike has now run back to the streets on three separate occasions, a painful cycle that underscores the deep-seated trauma affecting these children.

The boy's relapses reveal the fragility of the rehabilitation process. Mosiria noted that one disappearance from a children's home in Kangemi was allegedly triggered by a "disparaging conversation" with visiting government officials that left the boy feeling "emotionally undermined." In another instance, it was discovered the boy's own grandmother had introduced him to street life, sending him to beg.

The Unseen Scars of the Streets

The path to recovery for children like Mike is fraught with psychological hurdles that go beyond providing food and a classroom. Experts emphasize that rehabilitation requires intensive, consistent psychosocial support to address the trauma and abuse experienced on the streets.

• Initial Rescue: Mike was first rescued in December 2024.
• Education: He showed great promise at Great Vision School in Thogotho.
• Relapses: He has disappeared three times, often found in Nairobi or as far as Thika town after extensive searches.
• Investment: Mosiria has spent over KES 150,000 on Mike's school fees and upkeep, a personal commitment to his future.

A Vow to Never Give Up

Despite the repeated setbacks, Mosiria remains resolute. "I will not give up on Mike, not today, not tomorrow, not ever," he stated, vowing to secure a place for the boy in an approved government rehabilitation center for long-term, structured care. His public search for Mike has cast a spotlight on a crisis that often remains in the shadows of Nairobi's bustling economy.

The journey to save Mike is a stark reminder of the thousands of children who remain trapped in a cycle of poverty and addiction on Kenyan streets. It is a testament to the resilience of a few dedicated individuals, but also a call for a more robust, systemic approach to healing the deepest wounds of a generation growing up on the margins.