Introduction
The Street Families Rehabilitation Trust Fund, commonly known as SFRTF, is a Kenyan public trust fund that coordinates and finances programs supporting homeless, destitute, vulnerable and street-connected people.
History and Background
The Street Families Rehabilitation Trust Fund was established on 11 March 2003 through Legal Gazette Notice No. 1558 under the former Local Government Act.
The Fund was created to address the needs of homeless, destitute and vulnerable people living in Kenya’s urban areas. It was registered as a body corporate in August 2010 under the Trustees (Perpetual Succession) Act.
Under Executive Order No. 1 of 2018, the Fund was assigned to the State Department for Social Protection within the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection. It operates within Kenya’s broader government framework for children, families and vulnerable populations.
Mission and Purpose
SFRTF’s vision is “a country free of street families.” Its mission is to coordinate and facilitate preventive, rehabilitative and reintegrative programs for street-connected people.
Its principal focus areas include prevention, rescue, rehabilitation, reintegration, resocialization, psychosocial support, education, vocational training, talent development, family tracing, caregiver capacity building and public awareness.
The Fund serves street-connected children, young people, women, men, older people and persons with disabilities. Its work seeks to restore dignity, strengthen self-reliance and help individuals reconnect with their families and communities.
SFRTF also advises the Government of Kenya and other agencies on policies and interventions concerning the rehabilitation of street families.
Governance and Structure
The Fund is governed by a Board of Trustees comprising a chairperson and members drawn from different professional fields.
The Board provides strategic oversight, guides resource mobilization, approves programs, oversees funding and monitors the expenditure of public and donated resources.
A chief executive officer and professional staff manage operations, partnerships, program coordination, monitoring, financial administration and communication.
SFRTF works with national ministries, county governments, rehabilitation centres, charitable children’s institutions, nonprofit organizations, faith-based organizations, community groups, civil society organizations, development partners and volunteers with lived experience of street situations.
Funding and Grants
SFRTF receives its principal financial resources from Kenya’s National Treasury. The Board of Trustees also mobilizes monetary and material contributions from development partners, businesses, organizations and individual donors.
The Fund provides financial and technical assistance to eligible partner institutions delivering street-family rehabilitation services. Support is generally awarded annually.
SFRTF identifies potential partners through public calls for proposals, including advertisements in local newspapers. Submitted proposals undergo evaluation and due-diligence assessments before organizations are approved for support.
Eligible partners may include charitable children’s institutions, rehabilitation centres, community-based organizations, faith-based organizations and NGOs with appropriate experience and systems for supporting street-connected people.
Funded organizations are expected to account for expenditure, provide evidence of service delivery and participate in monitoring and evaluation.
Major Programs and Initiatives
Rescue activities involve outreach, identification, assessment, voluntary movement away from street situations and referral to appropriate support services.
Rehabilitation programs assess individual needs and develop personalized plans involving shelter, psychosocial care, education, vocational training, healthcare, life skills and talent development.
Reintegration activities include family tracing, household assessment, reconciliation, family preparation, short-term visits and follow-up support. The objective is to reunite individuals safely with parents, guardians, extended families or appropriate community-based care arrangements.
Resocialization programs help formerly street-connected people rebuild social relationships, develop independent-living abilities and participate constructively in their communities.
Prevention activities seek to address the circumstances that may push people into street situations. Approaches include early-warning systems, community mapping, social-protection services, family support, public education and locally led interventions.
The Fund also trains caregivers, volunteers and partner organizations to strengthen the quality, safety and consistency of rehabilitation services.
Public-education activities use media campaigns, community events, documentaries, brochures and digital information to explain the causes of homelessness, reduce stigma and encourage public support for rehabilitation.
Impact and Examples of Work Funded
SFRTF operates nationally through partner institutions across Kenya’s 47 counties. The Fund reports that it supports 30 institutions undertaking the rehabilitation of street-connected people.
Its funding helps partner institutions provide temporary accommodation, counselling, education, vocational skills, family tracing, reintegration assistance and follow-up services.
The Fund has contributed to developing Kenya’s National Policy on Rehabilitation of Street Families. The policy provides a coordinated framework for prevention, rescue, rehabilitation, reintegration and resocialization based on human dignity, public participation, equity, social justice and inclusion.
SFRTF has also collaborated with the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics on national censuses intended to establish reliable information about street-connected populations and improve program planning.
According to a Kenyan government report on the 2025 National Census for Street Families, the recorded street-family population declined from more than 46,000 in 2018 to 18,049 by the end of 2025.
Conclusion
The Street Families Rehabilitation Trust Fund combines public financing, institutional partnerships, policy coordination and direct program support to address street-connectedness across Kenya. Through prevention, rescue, rehabilitation, education, skills development, family reintegration and public awareness, the Fund works to restore dignity and create sustainable pathways away from street situations.
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