Undugu Society of Kenya and PLO Lumumba Foundation sign MoU to support street-connected communities during the the National Conference on the State of Homelessness and Street-Connectedness in Nairobi on July 29, 2026/ HANDOUTThe Undugu Society of Kenya and PLO Lumumba Foundation the have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to strengthen collaboration in supporting street-connected children, youth and homeless communities.
The stakeholders called for coordinated action to address what they described as one of Kenya's most overlooked social challenges.
The agreement was signed on Wednesday during the National Conference on the State of Homelessness and Street-Connectedness in Nairobi, bringing together representatives from the national and county governments, development partners, civil society organisations, researchers, justice sector actors and the private sector.
Held under the theme From Dialogue to Action: Securing Space for Street-Connected and Homeless Communities in Kenya's Fast-Moving Urban Development Discourse, the conference sought to shift conversations on homelessness towards practical interventions and long-term partnerships.
Undugu Society Executive Director Eric Mukoya said the partnership reflects the organisation's belief that no single institution can address homelessness on its own.
"We have journeyed and walked alongside street-connected individuals for the last 53 years, and we are saying that we can't do this alone. We are cognisant of the fact that this cannot be done well by one institution," Mukoya said.
He said the MoU marks the beginning of a stronger working relationship aimed at translating discussions into action.
"We are building friendships that go beyond conversations so that in this room we action that which we have discussed," he said.
Mukoya urged county governments to work closely with organisations already serving homeless and street-connected communities, saying meaningful progress would only be achieved through partnerships.
Constitutional Lawyer and Pan Africanist PLO Lumumba said the collaboration is intended to strengthen efforts aimed at restoring dignity and creating opportunities for vulnerable communities through partnerships focused on social justice and inclusion.
Lumumba used his keynote address to challenge institutions to move beyond speeches and work together to resolve homelessness, saying the problem has persisted for decades despite numerous interventions.
"The government must have a clear policy position on the same, and those clear policy positions must be translated into coordinated action," he said.
He said national and county governments, civil society organisations, faith-based institutions, the private sector and communities all have a role to play in addressing homelessness.
Lumumba also urged Kenyans to embrace the spirit of Ubuntu, reminding participants that development should ultimately be about improving people's lives.
"Maendeleo si vitu. Maendeleo ni watu," he said.
The partnership comes at a time when stakeholders are raising concerns over increasing homelessness and street-connectedness, particularly in urban centres experiencing rapid population growth.
Undugu Society of Kenya and PLO Lumumba Foundation sign MoU to support street-connected communities during the the National Conference on the State of Homelessness and Street-Connectedness in Nairobi on July 29, 2026/ HANDOUT
Mukoya said homelessness should become part of Kenya's development agenda, arguing that it reflects broader failures in policy implementation and resource allocation.
He said the country needs sustained investments in programmes that restore dignity and create pathways for people to rebuild their lives.
Council of Governors Director of Programmes and Partnerships Kizito Wangalwa welcomed the discussions, saying homelessness has not received sufficient attention within county governments despite devolution.
He said the conference had opened an important conversation on integrating homelessness into county planning and service delivery.
"The homelessness agenda has not been mainstreamed," Wangalwa said.
He said counties had recently made progress in developing a model policy on early childhood development and should now work with partners to ensure homelessness receives similar policy attention.
"We need the support of those in the sector to work on how county governments can fully embrace their responsibility to ensure homelessness does not exist within their jurisdictions," he said.
Nairobi County Director of Social Services Robert Muema said the county has established shelters for vulnerable groups, including girls, boys and older persons, where they receive accommodation, healthcare, education and psychosocial support free of charge.
He commended the Undugu Society for complementing government efforts through rescue, rehabilitation and reintegration programmes.
"When I joined the county government and started working in this city, I must attest that Undugu Society has really done a lot for homeless persons within this city," Muema said.
The conference also honoured renowned lawyer and Pan-Africanist Prof. PLO Lumumba for what the organisers described as his consistent advocacy for human dignity and social justice.
Presenting the recognition, Mukoya said Lumumba's unwavering commitment to people living on the margins had strengthened Kenya's resolve to confront homelessness with humanity and justice.
The signing of the MoU was presented as a key outcome of the conference, with organisers saying it symbolises a shared commitment by the Undugu Society of Kenya and the PLO Lumumba Foundation to ensuring no child or young person is left behind.
Stakeholders expressed hope that the partnership would strengthen collaboration in designing and implementing programmes that promote inclusion, protect vulnerable populations and support long-term solutions to homelessness and street-connectedness across the country.
