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West Pokot children’s officer has called for stronger parental responsibility in child upbringing amid hanging social, economic, and cultural realities.
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Fred Anzegele said that while traditional family structures remain important, parents must also address modern influences shaping children’s lives.
West Pokot Children’s Officer Fred Anzegele has called for stronger parental responsibility in child upbringing, urging parents and guardians to play a more active role in protecting and guiding children amid changing social, economic, and cultural realities.
Speaking on the growing challenges facing families, Anzegele said child protection requires constant engagement, awareness, and adaptation to emerging societal trends. He noted that while traditional family structures remain important, parents must also address modern influences shaping children’s lives.
He observed that children today are increasingly exposed to factors beyond the home and classroom, including digital technology, social media, peer pressure, changing cultural norms, and economic hardships. Without proper parental guidance, he warned, such influences could negatively affect children’s well-being, education, and moral development.
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Anzegele emphasized the importance of open communication within families, describing dialogue between parents and children as one of the most effective ways of safeguarding minors. He noted that many challenges affecting children often stem from a lack of communication, where parents are unaware of their children’s experiences at school and in social settings.
The officer also urged parents to closely monitor their children’s activities, particularly with the widespread use of mobile phones and internet access in rural and semi-urban areas.
While acknowledging the educational and communication benefits of technology, he cautioned against unregulated exposure, citing risks such as online exploitation, misinformation, and harmful behavioural influences.
He stressed that child protection is a shared responsibility involving parents, schools, community leaders, and government institutions. Anzegele encouraged stronger collaboration between parents and teachers to ensure early detection and intervention in cases of distress, absenteeism, or behavioural changes among learners.
Addressing economic and social pressures affecting families, he acknowledged that many parents are engaged in demanding livelihoods that limit the time spent with their children. However, he cautioned that financial challenges should not lead to emotional neglect, noting that children require both material support and emotional care for healthy development.
Anzegele further highlighted persistent challenges such as early marriages, teenage pregnancies, child labour, and neglect, which continue to affect vulnerable children in parts of West Pokot. He urged community members to report cases of abuse and exploitation to the relevant authorities, emphasizing that silence often worsens the plight of affected children.
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He noted that modern parenting requires both cultural grounding and an understanding of contemporary issues, including digital safety, peer influence, school environments, and mental health concerns. Parents, he said, should also instill discipline, values, and responsibility in children while balancing discipline with understanding and support.
The Children’s Officer reiterated that protecting children is both a constitutional and moral obligation. He warned that neglect and exposure to harmful environments can have long-term academic, social, and emotional consequences, ultimately affecting community development.
To strengthen child welfare, Anzegele called for regular sensitization forums to educate parents on modern parenting approaches, child rights, and protection mechanisms. Such initiatives, he said, would help bridge the gap between traditional parenting practices and contemporary realities.
He concluded by urging all stakeholders to remain proactive in safeguarding children’s interests, stressing that a strong society depends on well-protected, well-guided, and well-educated children.
By Hillary Muhalya
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