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Clergy Calls for united front against rising juvenile crime in Likoni

Religious leaders are calling for urgent and coordinated action among police, political leaders, and parents to curb the resurgence of violent juvenile gangs in Likoni Sub-County.

The appeals by the religious leaders were made during the marking of Good Friday in the Mtongwe area, Likoni Sub-County; they came on the heels of a damning preliminary report released by the National Crime Research Centre (NCRC) that shows Mombasa is leading with 73 criminal gangs in the country.

The Sub-County has been singled out for having notorious juvenile gangs known as Panga boys, Gaza and Squad Chafu that are terrorizing the locals and visitors in equal measure.

Fr. Henry Ndune of the Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church, Mtongwe, decries that boys as young as 13 years old are involved in criminal activities.

He urges parents to monitor their children’s behaviour and to avoid engaging in indecorous conduct under their watch. “We must instill good morals in them,” Fr. Ndune Stated.

Fr. Ndune highlighted the church’s proactive efforts through a school-based initiative, Making Life Responsible Choices (MLRC), currently being implemented in three schools across Likoni.

The programme aims to steer youth away from crime and drug abuse by fostering informed, ethical decision-making.

“I would like to encourage parents to familiarize themselves with the programme modules. First, children must know their gender, and they are supposed to be responsible citizens.”

Police Officers were commended for heightening security in the sub-county and for apprehending the criminals.

Fr. Ndune further called for collaboration between the Police, Religious Leaders, Political Leaders and Parents to address the reemergence of juvenile gangs that may snowball into a full-blown crisis if not tackled.

Politicians were urged not to use the youths to disrupt and cause chaos at their rivals’ meetings for political expediency.

“I condemned in the strongest terms possible the use of youths to cause chaos. A leader should direct the people in the right way, but when a politician incites the youths to cause chaos because of self-interest, we condemn that. We should let the youths grow responsibly. When they are arrested, the politicians run away, leaving parents in agony.”

Fr. Mwatigina Mghanga says that when parents are raised with good morals, they usually do not engage in vice. He lauded the government for launching the National Positive Parenting program, which will equip parents with good parenting teachings.

By Sadik Hassan

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