Students and youths in Kiandutu, Thika have been warned against accepting free gifts from strangers as they may fall prey to being recruited into undesirable cults.
Speaking on Monday in his office, Thika West district youth officer Laban Mwangi warned all the students resuming for their third term sessions not to receive gifts from people they do not know.
Mwangi noted that students both in primary and secondary schools in Thika area and Kiambu County at large had been lured into being members of cults with the false promise their fortunes would change in an instant.
He said some students from Kiandutu slums had confessed to being members of cults and had been mandated to recruit as many of their friends as they could in a bid to receive an even bigger reward.
He explained that students who were already members lured fellow students by enticing them with foods, drinks, perfumes, ornamental chains and rings, mobile phones and even money.
His appeal to parents was that they should advice their children not to accept free gifts because they may not know the strategies that were being used by those who were recruiting followers into some satanic cults.
“Students from this area should learn to feel contented with what they receive from their parents or guardians and work hard in school to brighten their future. These cults have been there and many students from Kiandutu slums have been lured into them. Parents be warned to guide your children as they resume their studies,” said Mwangi.