Kenya today joined the rest of the world in marking this year’s International Day of Families whose global theme is “Demographic Changes and Family Wellbeing.”
The day presents the opportunity to increase knowledge of social, economic and demographic concerns affecting families and to raise awareness on the impact of demographic changes on the wellbeing of families.
In Kiambu County, the celebrations were marked in Githunguri Sub County in an event that saw various speakers talk about family values, how they help shape individuals while providing a sense of belonging, emotional and social support.
Githunguri Sub County Deputy County Commissioner (DCC) David Juma reiterated that keeping family ties is paramount for the country as it helps in building a peaceful, safe and caring society.
“As we celebrate this important day, we need to promote and retain our values that pertain to family structure, functions and roles and beliefs,’’ he said.
Juma appealed to residents to form groups to access affordable credit facilities from the County Uwezo Fund, the Women Fund and Hustler Fund to empower them financially.
Kiambu County Coordinator for Social Development, Wairimu Kamau lamented the fact that teenage pregnancies have become rampant and urged parents to ensure that their children have access to education in order for them to be responsible citizens.
“We need to raise children who are responsible and in turn they will get on to the other phase of life being responsible”, she said noting that it is vitally important that adolescents be motivated in the family setting for them to continue with their studies.
Last year, Kiambu County was on the spot following the high rate of teenage pregnancies among young girls with a report indicating that between January 2022 and May 2022, 378 teenage girls had visited prenatal clinics.
Wairimu called upon all stakeholders, parents and even County governments to work together to ensure that rampant cases of early pregnancies are averted and thus ensure that strong family bonds are maintained.
In a speech read on behalf of Labour and Social Protection Cabinet Secretary (CS) Florence Bore by the Assistant Director for Social Development Josephine Ouma, the CS called on residents to uphold family values to build a strong community.
“There is no doubt that it is around the family and home that greatest virtues, the most dominating virtues of humanity, are created, strengthened and maintained,” she said.
Bore however expressed concerns about the welfare of children citing religious extremism as one of the major issues affecting the family structure thus urging parents not to fall victim to such evils.
“To optimize interventions to families, my ministry will continue to bolster partnerships for integrated support services to respective families such as provisions of mental health services,” added CS Bore.
The Ministry, she noted had partnered with the relevant stakeholders to develop a National Positive Parenting Program (NPPP) that will enhance parents and caregiver skills, practices and attitudes on parenting and this will be able to strengthen the capacity of families to foster healthy family relationships, promote healthy child development and minimize the risk of separation.
“This programme will be delivered through existing structures, at the National, County, Sub-County and the Community level through the services of well-trained Social Development Officers, Children Officers, Lay Volunteer Counsellors and Child Protection Volunteers”, the CS said in her speech.
The services, Bore added, will leverage existing support systems and services available for families such as nutrition education provided by community health promoters.
According to Jane Wanjiru Riaji, a resident and business lady in Githunguri, the day is important as it recognizes the role the family and society plays while also addressing many of the issues that are faced by modern families such as poverty and inequality.
“Family is important, we need to cherish the moments we have with our loved ones and although no family is perfect, love and understanding can make all the difference. We should all work towards building stronger families,” Riaji told KNA.
Kiambu constitutes around 796,241 households with an average household size of 3 persons per household and a population density of 952 people/km2.
The International Day of Families which was proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in 1993 is observed on 15th May every year.
By Steve Biko and Emmanuel Mulei
