A Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) Church pastor has blamed stepmothers for perpetuating child abuse among orphaned children in Kisii County.
Pastor Naftal Ogora regrets that orphaned children under the care of stepmothers continued suffering in silence, with majority of them suffering psychological torture and social isolation due to lack of motherly love.
Addressing mourners at the weekend at Nyandigwa/Bogisero village in Gucha South Sub County in Kisii County, during the burial of Sophia Kwamboka Obweri, the pastor challenged stepmothers to consider giving their deceased co-wives' orphaned children a fair treatment and take them as their children without social discrimination.
"The Bible tells us to respect the rights of orphans and widows since they belong to God, reminding us that whoever will do any wrong against them will be cursed," stated Ogora
Consequently, Ogora challenged parents from the Abagusii community to consider giving their girl-children a fair treatment when it comes to provision of education, reminding them that a girl-child, if empowered, acted as a bridge for all members of the society.
He however clarified that his sentiments were not meant to incite parents against the boy-child and instead they should strive to treat all their children equally whenever they were providing support to their children.