A women group in Zambezi area of Kikuyu are calling for the closure of gambling joints saying that husbands are losing large amounts of money at their families’ expense.
Speaking at a meeting by Ushirika Wetu Women Group in Zambezi on Tuesday, the chairlady Ms Rachel Mwai said that gambling had become very popular over the years causing conflict in many homes.
She observed that some men who have taken to gambling as a ‘job’ are losing a lot of money making them unable to provide for their families.
“Some of these men have taken it to be a job. They are risking a lot of family money in betting, putting the lives of their children in jeopardy,” she explained.
She mentioned that some husbands have gone to the extent of selling valuable family property such as land without involving their wives. Over the past six months she says, several new joints have been opened in the area
The chairlady observed that several children are on the verge of dropping out of school, a situation that is already happening in some of the families. Members of the women’s group agree that a majority of these men are already addicted.
“They are losing valuables but they still don’t stop. I am worried that the younger people will soon follow,” one of the members said.
They claim that some wives have been beaten up for questioning this reckless behaviour of their husbands.
"A man gets out of the house very early and you may think he left for work, only to see him idling at a gambling joint and wasting money,” Ms Grace Mumbi a member of the group lamented.
They are calling for prompt closure of these joints to prevent further damage to families in the area.
"Some men come from work as early as four o'clock but whatever little they have earned during the day, ends up lost in gambling joints. We appeal to the government for quick intervention,” the chairlady urged.