Cases of child neglect are rampant in Nakuru Sub County, according to statistics at the Nakuru Sub county Children’s Welfare Office.
Chief Children’s Welfare Officer William Wafula during an interview with this writer in his on Wednesday, said the office records over ten cases of child neglect and disputes every day.
According to the childrens’ welfare official, many cases concern women complaining of men, who are not supporting their children after separations, while some involve men complaining of women who have run away from their matrimonial homes, leaving young children under the care of their fathers.
Wafula further added that still other cases involve parents or relatives and also members of community of either women or men who complain that children’s parents have abandoned them.
“These cases are many here but also very varied. We receive an average of ten cases every day but most involve women complaining about men who are not supporting their children,” he said adding that still many cases are never reported.
The childrens’ welfare official noted that many cases of child neglect in Nakuru, according to statistics are caused by alcohol and drug abuse by both men and women, which influences domestic violence and actual neglect of children after separations.
He clarified that unemployment and low income were not big factors in child neglect, but added that disputes involving dowry were also factors that lead to child neglect.
Wafula observed that there is a need for the county government to enact laws that will strengthen child protection by mitigating child neglect incidences.