The Rotary Club of Nkubu has teamed up with the Meru government to round up street children and put them in rescue centres.
Club president Fr Francis Gaciata said cartels are trafficking children and exploiting them to make money.
“We extend love and mercy towards the very vulnerable children brought to Nkubu town from other counties or countries to beg. It is intrinsically evil for an abled person to take advantage of vulnerable children," he said.
Gaciata spoke in Nkubu town on Wednesday.
He was joined by Imenti South subcounty administrator Peter Muungania, Special programmes director Kimathi Ngari and Nkubu based businessman Kinoti GK.
They were in the town on a fact-finding mission.
The club is putting in place structures to give street children a decent life, care and protection.
Muungania said begging has been turned into a business and urged the community to report cases of child exploitation.
“This project is aimed at supporting special needs children to live a dignified life," he said.
"We will follow crucial links to ensure those with able families are returned to their community. Those from outside the country will be repatriated.”
Ngari said they are using various agencies to gather information on child traffickers and those caught will be punished.
Gaciata urged Interior CS Fred Matiang’i and the Immigration department to keep out foreign beggars.
Edited by Josephine M. Mayuya