Rising cases of defilement and drug abuse among teenagers in Nakuru have been blamed on poor parenting.
Speaking during a workshop at a Nakuru hotel on Sunday, Free Pentecostal Fellowship director George Nyachiro said that parents have neglected their roles in raising children.
He said that many teenagers are engaging in anti-social behaviours because they have no people to guide and counsel them.
“It’s unfortunate that most parents have neglected their parenting roles,” he said, adding that cases of young girls being defiled are on the rise.
He said there is need for parents to take their roles seriously and shape their children according to society’s accepted virtues.
The official at the same time called on the county government to step in and create forums through which young people can be mentored.
Nyachiro said that the future of many young people in Nakuru is at risk if measures are not taken to address issues facing them.
On drug abuse, the official indicated that most young people have resulted to selling drugs, a situation he blamed on unemployment.
He said that unemployment remains a big challenge that needs to be addressed in order to avert the crisis facing young generation.
He called on the government to put in place policies that will address unemployment saying that is the only way through which development will be realised.
“The government and stakeholders must think of more ways of reducing unemployment,” the official said.
He also called on the government to create awareness in regard to children rights, saying that many parents have no clue on the rights of children.