By Enock Okong’o
Evangelical Churches of Kenya Kisii Branch Chairman Bishop Lawrence Nyanuga has asked parents to be close to their children during the forthcoming December holiday.
“The long holiday is approaching. Let us all be ready to receive, guard, guide and counsel our children,” he said.
The Bishop said that many children go astray because their parents fear to correct them during their adolescence which gives them a false sense of maturity.
He asked parents to liaise with teachers to know the holiday assignments for their children so that they can supervise them.
Nyanuga noted that the youth are vulnerable to many social temptations and asked parents to direct them to the church where they can be involved in character development and community outreach services.
He asked the Chiefs, their assistants, community policing groups and the church to develop a joint frame work geared towards guide the youth against the challenges facing them.
“Let us develop a common system that guides our teenagers instead of coming together only when we are punishing them whenever they deviate from the societal norms,” he said.
The Bishop also asked parents to urge their grown-up children to accompany them to village barazas to enable them actively participate in the deliberation of community development matters.
His message was echoed by the Chaplain of Kisii University, Bishop Lawrence Nyaanga.
The Bishop, who doubles as the Kisii County National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA) chairman, asked the students to avoid drug abuse as it impedes their psychological and character growth.
The Bishop who was speaking at Kiong’ongi Primary school decried the rising cases of early teenage pregnancies in the county.
He attributed the vice to the carefree attitude of parents toward their children and the rise in the cost of living.
He appealed to the community and the government to safeguard the girl child from social evils by empowering them with quality education.
