Bumula Parents Urged to Mentor Children as Youth Crime and Drug Abuse Cases Rise
Bumula Deputy County Commissioner Hadia Salim Abdalah has called on parents to take a more active role in mentoring their children, warning that poor parental guidance is contributing to rising cases of drug abuse, insecurity, and moral decline among youths.
Bumula DCC Hadia Salim Abdalah urges parents to guide and mentor their children to help curb rising cases of drug abuse, insecurity, and moral decay among young people.
By Ruth Sang
Parents in Bumula Sub-County, Bungoma County, have been urged to play a more active role in guiding and mentoring their children to help address rising cases of insecurity, drug abuse, and moral decline among young people.
Speaking to the Kenya News Agency, Bumula Deputy County Commissioner Hadia Salim Abdalah expressed concern over the growing number of social vices affecting the youth, attributing the trend largely to inadequate parental guidance and supervision.
Abdalah noted that incidents of unrest in schools and institutions of higher learning have become increasingly common, citing poor parenting and a lack of community involvement as some of the contributing factors.
“Parents should take time to talk to their children and monitor their behaviour. They need to know the kind of friends their children associate with and ensure they are not drawn into harmful activities,” she said.
The administrator emphasized the importance of parents creating time to engage with their children, especially during school holidays, to better understand the challenges they face and provide the necessary support and direction.
She encouraged parents and guardians to build strong relationships with their children, saying open communication can help prevent them from falling into destructive behaviours.
Abdalah also called for a collaborative approach involving parents, community leaders, religious organizations, schools, and other stakeholders to address the growing moral challenges facing young people.
“We need collective efforts from all stakeholders to identify the root causes of moral decay among the youth and come up with lasting solutions,” she said.
The Deputy County Commissioner further warned young people against being used by politicians to engage in violence, criminal activities, or actions that could jeopardize their future.
She urged youths to remain law-abiding, focus on education and personal development, and avoid being manipulated into participating in unlawful activities for political gain.
According to Abdalah, strengthening family values and promoting responsible parenting will play a key role in reducing crime, drug abuse, and other social challenges affecting communities across the region.
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