Kwale Deputy Governor Fatuma Achani has warned youth under 18 years against attending night weddings and other adult ceremonies saying that they should be rounded up by police and taken to police stations.
According to her, such children have no business attending such ceremonies.
Achani noted that weddings and night celebrations which are meant for adults, have become a major conduit for the runaway early pregnancies among students and under-age girls.
Achani has also blamed parents for failing to take care of their children, especially during the long school holidays, and were letting them free to attend weddings and other odd-hours celebrations.
“I really get pissed off these days whenever I attend weddings and I find a large number of youth and children who just loiter around. They dance to vulgar music while parents watch. Every parent should be responsible for what their children are doing,” she said.
She was addressing the public at Vinuni primary school in Magodzoni, during the launch of 16 days of activism against Gender-Based Violence (GBV) where she was the chief guest.
“My dear parents, don’t allow your children to attend these ceremonies. This is where they meet boys and then disappear in the nearby bushes from where they emerge with unwanted pregnancies. Let us tell each other the truth because the solution to early pregnancies lies with us,” she said.
She added, “Even if your child is not there and you notice a large number of under-age children at a wedding or another ceremony, call the police so that they are rounded up. When they sleep in police stations, they won’t repeat it”.
Achani who early this month kicked off a campaign to talk to youth on the early pregnancies urged parents to form groups and committees which will visit schools when they reopen.
The DG said Governor Salim Mvurya’s administration had set aside millions of shillings towards bursaries but if pupils do not perform because they are pregnant, they will not benefit from the bursary kit.
Parents at the meeting applauded her efforts and promised to join her in the fight against early pregnancies.
Present were CeC for Gender and Talent Management Ramadhani Masudi Bungale and CeC for Land and Environment Saumu Beja Mahaja.
A procession from Tiwi market to Vinuni was held to create awareness on the GBV subject, before the official launch.
Other speakers who included Matuga Deputy OCS Sophy Wanjala, Deputy County Commissioner Isaac Keter, People Living with Disability representative Lydia Kanini among others agreed with the DG that the issue needs collective approach.
‘’Do not hide criminals when they defile children. Don’t deal with the case at the community level but report to the police for appropriate action to be taken,’’ said Wanjala.