Parents have been advised to support their children fully in ensuring they get the desired guidance and life skills so as to become self-reliant.
Speaking at the Old Town hall on Friday during a county youth leaders' forum, Nakuru Senator James Mungai decried the swelling number of young people being involved in crime, saying that it ought to send a wake-up call to parents and all responsible authorities.
“Our young people engage in crime because there is a serious disconnect in the society. Those who are supposed to show them the way are nowhere to be found, what do you expect?” he posed.
Mungai noted that non-performance in school was not reason enough to neglect a child because the society was saturated with different opportunities for different people.
“All of us have different capabilities that will bring the best in us if well utilised, it’s sad that some parents cut their links with their children on grounds that they are poor academically,” the senator said.
According to Mungai, stigma and being sidelined was the recipe of crime and other wayward behaviours being depicted by young idle minds.
“I have interacted with many young people willing to engage themselves in meaningful projects but lack the moral support from their parents and caregivers, let’s change this perception and the situation will change for the better,” he advised.
According to a survey commissioned by the Consumer Insight Researchers of 2014, crime among the youth was attributed to lack of technical knowledge and an unsupportive society.
A majority of youths interviewed noted that life was pushing them into criminal activities because of being deemed failures by the society.
“Youth complained of being left to hustle for a meaningful life as early as after their primary examinations results. The situation was even worse in cases that the results turned out to be negative,” read part of the survey.