By K, KNA
Parents have been encouraged to offer a friendly environment for their children to ensure they felt accepted as a way of cushioning them against alcohol and substance abuse.
Speaking during the Judiciary Dialogue Day at Nyahururu law Court premises, Peter Munyao, Officer Commanding Ngano police Station (OCS), Nyandarua County, said unfriendly home environments and failure by parents to befriend their children, have led many of the youngsters into alcoholism and substance abuse.
Munyao appealed to parents to always take time and have candid conversations with their children, with a view to according them the opportunity to open up, concerning the challenges they could be passing through.
The OCS expressed deep concern over the recent loss of two lives in Ngano area, where a boy and a girl aged 13 and 12 years respectively, committed suicide.
“It is unfortunate that we are losing lives, while also destroying the future generations, simply because of not taking a keen interest on the changing dynamics of parenting,” noted Munyao
He reiterated that children deserve their rights and as parents and good neighbours, we have the sole responsibility of safeguarding the overall welfare of our children, expressing concern that most people nowadays have abandoned this collective responsibility.
“Even if the wayward children are not our own, they remain an integral part of the community and will continue to affect us, in one way or another, therefore we must show some level of concern,” noted OCS.
Munyao decried that in Ngano area, majority of the boys were engaging in alcoholism and substance abuse, urging members of community to work closely with security apparatus to eliminate the vices.
On filing of cases in court, the OCS lamented the high fees being charged and urged local law firms to be considerate in order to allow even the low income earners access their services.
He also challenged the judiciary staff to dispense their services without favoritism to ensure fair dispensation of justice.