- Hillary Muhalya examines why more Kenyan parents are turning to behavioural intervention programmes and argues that lasting change comes through strong families, professional support and community partnerships rather than quick fixes.
By Hillary Muhalya
For many Kenyan parents, raising a teenager has never been more challenging than it is today. The transition from childhood to adulthood has always tested families, but the digital age has introduced a new layer of complexity. Smartphones, social media, online gambling, drug and substance abuse, cyberbullying, peer pressure and declining face-to-face communication have combined to create pressures that many families feel ill-equipped to handle.
Across the country, increasing numbers of parents quietly admit that they have reached a breaking point. Some speak of children who have become addicted to drugs, while others struggle with persistent school indiscipline, violent behaviour, truancy, internet addiction or emotional withdrawal. Many say they have exhausted every available option—discipline, counselling, prayer, family meetings and school intervention—without seeing lasting change.
It is this desperation that has fuelled growing interest in rehabilitation centres, behavioural intervention programmes and residential camps that promise to transform troubled adolescents. Their advertisements often promise discipline, character development, emotional healing and a fresh start. For exhausted parents, such promises can sound like the answer they have been desperately searching for.
Yet experts caution that there are no shortcuts to parenting and no single programme capable of addressing every child’s unique circumstances.
Child psychologists, counsellors and education specialists argue that behavioural challenges rarely develop in isolation. A teenager acting out at home or school may be responding to unresolved trauma, depression, anxiety, bullying, learning difficulties, family conflict, neglect or negative peer influence. Others may be battling addiction or struggling with identity and self-esteem.
Treating all children as though they share the same problems, experts say, risks overlooking the real causes of their behaviour. Effective intervention begins with understanding the individual child rather than applying identical solutions to everyone.
Kenya has witnessed a gradual increase in facilities offering rehabilitation, behavioural correction and therapeutic services for young people. While many institutions provide valuable support under qualified professionals, concerns have also emerged over the standards maintained by some operators. Reports from different parts of the world have highlighted instances where children placed in poorly supervised facilities experienced neglect, emotional abuse or excessive punishment instead of receiving the care they needed.
These concerns underscore the importance of proper government regulation and continuous monitoring. Parents deserve confidence that any institution entrusted with their children operates legally, employs qualified staff and follows recognised child protection standards.
Professional oversight should never be viewed as an obstacle but as a safeguard that protects both families and vulnerable young people. Strong inspection systems, transparent licensing procedures and regular compliance checks are essential to maintaining public trust.
Schools and communities have a vital role
The influence of social media has further complicated the situation. Today’s parents often search for solutions online before consulting professionals. Videos showing dramatic “before and after” transformations, military-style discipline or emotional testimonies can quickly go viral, creating the impression that behavioural camps offer guaranteed success.
However, experts urge parents to exercise caution. Social media presents carefully selected moments rather than the full picture. A professionally produced video cannot substitute for independent research, consultation with qualified psychologists or recommendations from accredited medical practitioners.
Parents are encouraged to ask important questions before enrolling a child in any programme. Is the facility licensed? Are counsellors professionally qualified? What therapeutic methods are used? How are children’s rights protected? How frequently can parents communicate with their children? What emergency medical and psychological support is available? Transparent answers to such questions are often the best indicators of a credible institution.
Schools also have a critical responsibility in supporting families. Teachers are frequently the first to notice changes in learners’ behaviour, attendance, academic performance or emotional wellbeing. Rather than responding solely through punishment, schools should strengthen guidance and counselling departments, partner with mental health professionals and involve parents at the earliest signs of concern.
The government’s continued investment in school counselling services, mental health awareness and child protection programmes will play an increasingly important role in preventing behavioural challenges from escalating into crises.
Religious institutions, community organisations and youth groups equally have an opportunity to become part of the solution. Churches, mosques and community centres have historically provided mentorship, moral guidance and emotional support to young people. Strengthening these programmes can help create safe spaces where teenagers feel heard, understood and supported before problems become overwhelming.
Parents remain the foundation of lasting change
Kenya can also learn valuable lessons from experiences in other countries. Across Africa and beyond, debates continue over the effectiveness of behavioural correction camps and residential intervention programmes. While some families report remarkable improvements, others have raised concerns about poor oversight and inappropriate disciplinary practices. These contrasting experiences demonstrate that success depends less on the existence of such facilities and more on the quality of care, professional expertise and accountability within them.
Ultimately, parenting remains one of society’s most demanding responsibilities. There is no manual that guarantees success, nor is there a universal formula capable of transforming every struggling teenager. Every family faces unique circumstances, and every child deserves an approach tailored to their emotional, psychological and developmental needs.
As Kenya continues confronting rising cases of youth mental health challenges, substance abuse and school indiscipline, the conversation should move beyond blame. Parents should not suffer in silence, and children should never be viewed simply as problems to be fixed. Instead, families need accessible counselling services, affordable mental health care, strong schools, supportive communities and effective government oversight.
The future of Kenya’s young people will not be secured through fear or punishment alone. It will be built through understanding, early intervention, evidence-based care, responsible parenting and institutions that place the wellbeing and dignity of every child at the centre of their work.
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The greatest lesson for families is that while behavioural programmes may assist some children, no institution can replace the love, guidance, patience and consistent support that begin at home. Lasting transformation is achieved not through promises of quick fixes but through partnerships between parents, schools, health professionals, faith communities and government agencies working together in the best interests of every child.
By Hillary Muhalya
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