The government has been urged to strengthen counseling programs in schools to curb increasing incidents of deviant behaviour amongst the youth.
Speaking to our reporter in his office on Wednesday, Kuria Muthandi from the Kenya National Association of Probation Officers said the increasing incidents of deviant behaviour among young people were worrying.
Muthandi, who is the chairman of the association’s Nakuru County Branch, said cases of children attacking their parents and siblings over domestic matters were on the rise.
He further added that the challenges posed by urbanisation and changing lifestyles were exerting pressure on young people who divert their anger on their parents and siblings.
The probation officer said it was important for the government to strengthen counseling programs in schools to mould the character of pupils and students at formative stages.
“We can only instill the right attitudes and positive values in children when they are young. We even need to sensitize them on dangers of crime,’’ said Muthandi.
He said the branch members had agreed to volunteer their time to give lectures to secondary school students on risks they expose themselves to due to engaging in crime.
Muthandi said the branch members have in recent past been handling numerous cases of young people who engage in crime due to drug abuse.
“Alcoholism and drug abuse are some of the factors driving young people to commit crime. This is a problem that needs to be addressed in order to create a stable society,” he added.
He said there are numerous incidents of young persons stealing money from their parents and neighbours in order to buy drugs.
“These young people normally aged between 16 and 24 years have also been stealing other valuable items from their homes which they later sell and purchase drugs,” he noted.