Parents in Kisii County have raised concerns about the alarming rate of children frequenting local bars during the long holiday period.
Speaking at Nyamarambe town, the parents appealed to both the National and County Governments to take urgent action to protect their children from exploitation.
They pointed fingers at commercial sex workers for exposing their children to alcohol consumption as a way to alleviate their hunger.
“These women, grappling with the economic hardships of the times, have been forced to bring their children into the bars, where they are inadvertently introduced to unhealthy habits,” one parent stated.
Additionally, they called upon the police to close bars whose owners allow barmaids to host children, citing this as a violation of their children’s rights.
Reportedly, the issue has affected several main shopping centers, including Mochengo, Etago, Nyabigena Ikoba, and Ogembo in the neighboring Bomachoge Chache Constituency.
One barmaid, Edinah, revealed that her dire circumstances had compelled her to bring her children to her workplace, as she could not afford food at home, and was facing harassment from her landlord due to unpaid rent.
“I dropped out of school due to lack of school fees and eloped with a boda boda rider, but we separated after having three children,” she recalled.
Edinah expressed her willingness to return to school and secure a better future for her family.
The Chairman of the Bodaboda Riders Association in South Mugirango Constituency Ondara Akuma acknowledged the gravity of the situation in child care.
He disclosed that their group vehemently opposes child abuse and recounted a recent incident where they rescued a 12-year-old schoolgirl from eloping with a boda boda rider, promptly turning him over to the police for investigation.
“My group is actively collaborating with local authorities to combat this issue,” Akuma stated.
He further appealed to parents not to compromise with offenders who attempt to buy their way out of trouble after being apprehended by the police for child abuse incidents.
By Enock Okong’o
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