Parents in Bungoma County have been asked to take up their parental roles in a bid to deter children from going to the streets.
Speaking on Tuesday while marking the World Orphans’ Day celebrations at Kanduyi Children’s Home in Bungoma, a Children’s Officer, Linet Atieli urged parents to take their parental roles seriously.
Atieli said that most of the cases they receive in the children’s office were of child neglect which are rampant due to poverty levels where most women report their husbands in order to get child upkeep.
She added that since some children were being neglected by their parents by failing to provide for them basic needs they end up running to the streets, adding to the increasing numbers of urchins.
The Children Officer called on women to look for income generating activities which will enable them cater for the needs of their children instead of depending on their husbands who may be there today but in the future may be gone.
Atieli said it was the responsibility of both parents to provide for their children and be role models so that children can be useful members of the society in future.
She cautioned those parents who neglect their children that stern measures will be taken against them, including being jailed.
The officer called on all stakeholders to help in curbing the street children menace, saying for it to be dealt with once and for all it requires the concerted efforts of all stakeholders.
By Maureen Imbayi
