Garissa County Children’s Coordinator Mohamed Abdi Hussein has warned parents in Garissa County against neglecting their children noting that it is contributing to increased number of children not attending schools.
Hussein said there is a tendency by parents in the region to neglect their children a lapse that has seen them engage in unproductive activities including hard drugs abuse and being involved in criminal activities.
Hussein further noted that the children are also exposed to hardships while others are engaged in labour which he said was against the law.
He said there is low enrolment in schools as most of the children are out of school and are engaging in child labour such as hawking, looking after livestock among other activities.
The coordinator who warned that abandoning parenthood is an offence punishable by law asked parents to take up their parental responsibilities by providing the basic need of their children.
“These days, there are many cases of parents failing to take responsibility of their children, they should know that this is a criminal offence.”
“Children are the future of the society and should all be taken to school to ensure we have an elite generation,” said Mr Hussein.
Mr Hussein also said that many underage girls were in danger of harmful cultural practices including Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) that he said are conducted silently away from government officials.