Counsellors have warned that failure by parents to urgently recommence moral child rearing could deteriorate the growing cases of indiscipline among learners as witnessed in the country recently.
They expressed concerns that unlike before, modern parenting is engulfed with a myriad of challenges among them over exposure of children to the internet, television among other dangerous technologies.
Addressing journalists at Glory Outreach Assembly church in Kahawa Wendani, Ruiru after holding an intensive parenting session with parents drawn from various parts of the country, the therapists decried that modern parents have become very busy to a point of substituting parenting with income generating activities denying their children the much needed emotional and physical attachment.
Further to roots of indiscipline among Kenyan children, the counsellors cited that most parents enter into marriage carrying many baggage and psychological issues which are moved to their children translating into misbehavior.
Led by Truphena Wakaba, the therapists further decried that lack of good role models is also blamable for the augmented cases of indiscipline among children.
Wakaba said that most parents are on drugs while others are serious alcoholics, a societal challenge she regretted as slowly being emulated by children.
To overcome the growing challenges, Wakaba called on parents to stand out to be ideal parents that they ought to be, sort out their previous relationship and family feuds to ensure that their children do not get affected as they grapple to recover.
Further, the counsellors emphasized that the church has a major role in good parenting as 85 percent of Kenyans are Christians.
Bishop David Thagana of Glory Outreach Assembly noted that the church should not be exempted in good upbringing of children.
He said if Kenya is to have responsible citizens, the church, learning institutions and the government must work together to ensure instillation of discipline among youngsters right from their tender age.
Thagana pointed out that the church is grappling with a daunting task of helping children recover from societal ills they were exposed to during the prolonged stay at home which was precipitated by Covid-19.
At the same time, Liz Wanyoike, a philanthropist and entrepreneur expressed the need to restore caning in schools as it helps instill discipline among learners.
She noted that while the Kenyan government banned corporal punishment in schools and enacted the children’s Act, the rate of current indiscipline in the country should be a wake-up call on the need to urgently get back corporal punishment though in moderation.
To ensure that it is not overdone, Wanyoike insisted on the need to have regular assessment of teachers responsible for punishing learners.
The counsellors’ sentiments were echoed by parents who rooted for unity among both male and female parents in giving care and nurturing their children to become better society members.