Most minors serving sentences at various correctional facilities in the country are victims of poor parenting and negligence, a cleric has said.
Father Peter Kimani from Thika Catholic Church spoke on Wednesday when he led a group of children drawn from Thika Junior Golf Sports Club in visiting children convicted for various offences at Kamiti Youth Correctional Training Centre in Kiambu.
"Let us parents be good pace-setters for our children. Our failure in parenting is the reason we have children in their teenage years in such a facility", said Father Kimani.
He at the same time challenged the teenagers to avoid being disobedient to their parents and the law in general in order to stay away from correctional facilities.
"We have a popular adage that says that he who does not listen to their parents is taught by the world. As young teenagers you need to heed to your parents advice and you will never be a prisoner of law", he added.
He also urged the teenagers to advise their friends who may be going astray saying that positive peer influence is encouraged.