A pastor at Kanunga Location in Kiambu County has advised parents to allow their children to choose their career courses without interference so that they can pursue what they will enjoy doing in future.
Pastor Eric Kimani of Joy ministries said some parents have caused many youths to ruin their lives after being forced to undertake courses which pleased their parents and not the children.
Pastor Kimani cited an incident in which a young man sought his intervention after his parents chased him away after he declined to enrol for a business management course.
"Forcing certain careers down your children’s throats does not augur well as it makes them more rebellious and most of them end up messing their lives," said Kimani.
Peter Mwangi, a youth at Kangoya village, said he was forced to do a course in nursing by his parents and on reaching his final year of study, he dropped out and opted to do construction jobs as his parents refused to allow him to venture into journalism which was his passion.
He said that being forced to pursue something that one does not have any passion in, was like piercing the person's heart and lowering their motivation spirit.
Martin Kofo, a youth leader at All Saint Catholic Church said that parents should allow their children to choose their career paths and only advise, guide and support them to achieve their dreams.
He said that failure to support a child’s passion was perceived as being uncaring and unloving and the students tend to feel that their opinions do not matter.
Kofo said many parents do this because they want their children to achieve what they failed to when they were growing up.
He urged parents to support their children’s choices and listen to their ideas as they may be talented in one area and would be forced to abandon it due to parental pressure