Kiambu County Principal Director of Children, Mwambi Mong'are has blamed parents for the increasing cases of teenage pregnancies.
Mong'are said parents have abdicated their roles of guiding and advising their children on sexual matters.
Speaking in his office on Wednesday, Mong'are challenged parents to take advantage of the few days remaining for holidays and spend time with their children, and teach them on family and societal values.
He said those responsible for these pregnancies in most families were house keepers, who include herds boys and house boys among others.
“Most parents do not have time for their kids and they leave them under the care of their employees who take advantage of the kids and get them pregnant,” said Mong'are.
He stated that parents have the responsibility of knowing their children well, as well their whereabouts and the company they keep noting that this can help get rid of indoctrination by religious hard liners, among other vices.
“It is good for parents to keep track of their kids. This will help them understand and know them more,” said Mong'are.
However, an interview with some parents revealed that they blame the media, specifically the internet for eroding family values.
Mary Wangare, a business woman and mother of two said despite her efforts to teach her children the right values, it was near impossible to stop them from accessing the internet since they have it on their mobile phones.
Wangare called on the government to formulate a policy that will close down some sites and allow only those that are morally upright.
“We need a media law that will curtail pornographic sites for purposes of protecting our children,” said Wangare.
She added, “Few parents have a don’t-care-attitude towards raising their children, but the changing times pose big challenges to parenting.”
She however asked parents to stop assuming that teenagers do not have knowledge on sexual matters, adding that they tend to practise what they watch in the media in private.
A 20-year-old woman, who declined to be named, said she conceived at 13 due to influence of friends and the media.
“Since my parents had not talked to me about sex, I decided to try it with our houseboy. I got pregnant at the first experience,” she said.
She added: “Although I was not willing to have him take responsibility due to stigma, my parents’ reaction forced me to look for him, but he moved away and instead blamed me for being a fool and not using contraceptives.”
She advised girls to think wisely before they leap into premature sexual encounters and urged parents to view their children as serious investments, adding that responsible parenthood raises responsible children.