Migori County Commissioner David Gitonga has blamed parents in Migori County for failing to guide their children leading to a spike in cases of defilement, teenage pregnancies and early marriage.
He said failure by parents to inculcate morals in their young ones had also led to a rise in incidences of violence, drug abuse and crookedness among the youth in the recent years.
Speaking during a public Baraza in Muhuru Bay, Nyatike South sub county, Gitonga said while defilement cases and teenage pregnancies are becoming a thorn in the flesh of most parents, many of them have not thought of taking the responsibility of training their children in good morals and the fear of God.
He said that it is worrying to find teenagers late in the night strolling in the dark when they are supposed to be in their homes with their parents.
“During the just concluded Christmas festivities, parents decided to leave their children to roam around and engage in immoral behaviour that are detrimental to their lives,” he said.
The administrator further warned that it is during the odd hours when children are preyed upon by defilers and some end up engaging in behaviours that leads to early pregnancies and teen motherhood.
Migori still ranks among the leading counties with high prevalence of defilement and teen pregnancies, where the causative agents are poverty, negligence and drug and substance abuse.
Mr. Gitonga called upon parents and guardians to take good care of their children to help reduce cases of defilement and gender-based violence that has been rampant in the area.
He said that it is the duty of security agencies to act on complaints by residents on matters of security and address them, as well as sensitise them on various government policies.
During the meeting, the locals expressed their dissatisfaction with the state of security along the border, citing harassment from the Tanzanian police officers.
This is in addition to incidences of security breaches which has been reported in Muhuru town where criminals cross over to the other side after committing crime.
The county commissioner pledged that security agencies will ensure that everything is in place to safeguard the locals and, their properties.
He said plans are in place to meet with their counterpart from Tanzania to ensure a cordial working relationship along the border.
Mr. Gitonga also announced plans by the county administration to distribute relief food to households affected by floods next week.
By Polycarp Ochieng and George Agimba
