Parents have been blamed for abandoning their children and leaving them to teachers hence the increase in the number of early pregnancies in Bungoma County.
Addressing members in a security meeting at Webuye DEB primary school grounds that brought together village elders, assistant chiefs, chiefs and other security personnel, Webuye DCC Mr. Lotiatia Kipkech criticized parents for their poor upbringing of their children that has led to early pregnancies in Bungoma County and especially Webuye West sub county which has led in the county.
He said many parents have abandoned their responsibilities and instead left it to teachers who have other responsibilities of providing education to pupils and students though they are allowed to provide guiding and counseling services too.
“Our sub county has experienced a lot of early pregnancies with the current analysis but parents have failed us miserably because they have not been able to give pieces of advice to their children and they must change and watch their children closely so that these pregnancies can go down because during national examinations we came across many candidates who were expectant which is not a good thing, ” said Mr. Lotiatia.
He explained that many parents take most of their time doing their own businesses and forget about their families and such lives must change because during Covid-19 pandemic that led to children being at home for a long time made many girls get pregnant which informs us that parents have forgotten their responsibilities.
“It was during the Covid-19 pandemic that many pupils and students got pregnant while at home after schools closed down and that made us realize that parents have been the main cause for increased early pregnancies,” added the DCC.
Lotiatia on the hand has complained of many accidents happening on roads saying many have occurred due to many underage having been involved in the bodaboda sector and has warned that anyone who will be found giving motorcycle to children will be dealt with according to the law.
“What is happening on our roads in terms of accidents is so overwhelming and I am instructing all the chiefs and their assistants in conjunction with police to arrest any underage who will be involving himself in bodaboda and we will also look for their parents and deal with them with the accordance to the law, “he cautioned
On his part, Webuye West sub county OCPD Mr. Sadik Williams requested the community to work closely with the police to make sure that they together bring peace and tranquility in the sub county given that security begins with an individual adding that his office is open for any resident who wants to report any matter or wants to give information that will assist the police on cracking down illicit brew and arrest law breaking individuals.
He added that despite him being new at the station he is up to the task and warned those bars which are operating beyond curfew time and said action will be taken against the owners and implored in those who engage in brewing illicit brew to either change the business or be ready for action saying the illegal liquor has stagnated development and affected academic of the sub county and has also largely contributed to early teenage pregnancies.
He warned parents who do kangaroo courts to conclude cases pertaining early pregnancies that their days are numbered and any administrator who will be in the deal will automatically lose the job.
“We hear some kangaroo courts being done by some families on the issue of teenage pregnancies where many exchange hands over the two affected families, let me assure you any parent who will do that will be used an example of how law deals with such because we can’t use our teenagers as hooks to get money and therefore I appeal to parents to make sure if such incident happens to report to police station and action will be taken immediately, ” said Mr Sadik.