Thika Town MP Alice Nga’ng’a has expressed concern over the high number of youths engaging in crime, saying the crisis needs urgent intervention.
Addressing Kiandutu slum residents on Friday, the MP said many youths who have joined criminal gangs are being felled by police.
She said that there is need for urgent measures to be taken to discourage youths from joining criminal gangs.
“It is so sad that most of our young people are joining criminal gangs and in the process being killed,” she lamented.
The legislator blamed poverty, unemployment and peer pressure as factors that have seen many youths engage in crime.
The MP called on the government to improve the lives and living conditions in slums to avert the crisis.
Nga’ng’a pledged to support youths in slums to access employment and other opportunities that will better their lives.
She asked leaders in the constituency to work towards improving the living conditions of the people, stating that politicking would not help but only makes matters worse.
The MP challenged the youths to be pro-active and work with both the county and the national government on development matters.
She said that it is through being active that young people would curb temptations that cause them to engage in crime.