Kikuyu Sub-County deputy county commissioner Elias Kithaura has expressed concerns over the rising cases of absentee fathers.
Allegedly, the men have abandoned their families forcing women to take up the roles as heads of households.
Speaking from his office on Friday, Kithaura said statistics indicate that the number of men who had abandoned their homes in the region was alarming. He noted that most of them were unable to fend for their families largely due to excessive consumption of alcohol.
The administrator added that women have been forced to provide for the children with majority of men whiling away time in illicit liquor dens.
“It is a worrying development that should be urgently addressed. I have several cases in my office where women are appealing for help after their husbands left all domestic duties for them,” he said.
Kithaura challenged men to uphold the traditional values of hard work, honesty and unity to foster development in the area.
He warned that lack of father figure and role models for children in the families had the potential of giving rise to a generation of undisciplined young people. He added that the county government is drafting legislation that would regulate the consumption of alcohol to save families from disintegration.