John Gikundi's father died in 1996, leaving the boy under the care of his mother who also died in 1998. After the death of his mother, John went to live with his aunt. After a short stay in his aunt's home, the aunt started to mistreat the boy by giving him hard work which the boy was unable to complete. When John could not complete the work given to him, he was not given food that day. The aunt also started to beat the boy; so having no alternative, John ran away and joined the street life in April 1999.

Daniel Gikundi's father died after being beaten by thugs on a drinking spree. His mother also died, after which the boy was left under the care of his step-father. Daniel's step-father's wife was very bad and she started beating the boy when the husband was not at home. Daniel remembers that one evening he was heavily beaten and he had to spend the night in the bush; and from that day he vowed never to go back to that home again. He joined the street life.

After the death of Evelyn's mother, her father married another wife who hated Evelyn very much and she gave her difficult jobs to do at home. Whenever she was not able to complete these jobs she would not give her food. When her father came home late at night, Evelyn would tell him that she was hungry because she was not given any food all day. Her father would not pay attention to her complaints. Evelyn recalls that on the day she ran away from home she had not eaten any food for two days. She now lives by begging food and finding left-overs in the streets.

After the death of both parents of Winifred Kathambi was left under the care of her uncle. Her uncle's wife was very harsh and did not like Winifred to stay in their house. She expressed her hatred on a daily basis by beating Winifred and sometimes denying her food. Then Winifred decided to run away because of the mistreatment. She came to town and was given employment as a house-maid until she was expelled because of breaking a thermos. She then stayed in the town and lived by collecting and eating the left-over food which she found in dustbins mostly at night.

After the death of both parents of Juliet Makena was left with her grandmother who was very old. The grandmother died and Makena was left alone without anybody to care for her. She went to her uncle's home for help but was expelled from there. Makena had nowhere else to go but onto the streets looking for food and work. She was employed as a baby-sitter but she was expelled after three months with allegations that she was drinking the baby's milk in the day time. Again Makena was forced onto the streets, where she foraged for left-overs in dustbins at night.