PARENTS TAKE FULL RESPONSIBILITY TO AVOID KIDS JOIN ALSHABAAB

Parents in Lamu County have been urged to take full responsibility of their children as they are vulnerable in joining the Alshabaab militant group in Somalia or any other illegal group in Kenya.

Speaking in Witu division during the celebrations of the African child on Saturday that had been organized by the Witu Catholic mission, Witu Kenya defense forces officer commanding Witu KDF camp major Cyprian Omari, said that most youths have become vulnerable thus joining the group with the aim of providing for themselves.

He said that the children as they grow mingle with different people in school, community who some recruit them into illegal groups without their knowledge, when the parents learn it is very late.

“Parents let us take the responsibility of our children, if we  do not provide for them they become vulnerable turn into crime and other join illegal groups without their knowledge” said Omari.

He also pointed out parenting as also another factor that has caused many teenagers and youths join the militia group citing that parents are supposed to bring the child back home instead of doing things that will make them run away to find solace.

”Parenting is a major issue with many children in Lamu, if parents can discipline their children, then no youth or teenager will agree to join the militia group, but as long as there is indiscipline in the community, noone to correct all the vulnerable group will join the group” said Omari.

The Major however said that security is being resorted urging the locals to cooperate by giving information of any suspicious character citing that the war on terror cannot be won if the community is the one hiding the criminals.

Witu is known to have been the home of Al-Qaeda top commander in East Africa and also Alshabaab commander in Somalia Fazul Mohamed who has a family in the town, making the town very vulnerable.

Omari said no child can be happy, play, go to school  in a war torn country citing that much has changed in Witu that was a dead town with little activity town that was filled with fear, but today children are schooling, playing comfortably showing that peace is being restored.

“Do not hide criminals, we are your warriors do not mislead us, lead us to where the criminals are, during our operations we have seen children playing football among other games, no child can play or even free to go to school in a country or place where there is war or insecurity is on” the major went on to say.

Omari has however called upon parents to sacrifice their children who have joined the militia calling them hyenas who will also turn hostile and kill them saying we all must be patriotic.

Politicians have also been told to stop politicizing security matters as wananchi take messages from them,most that is misleading.”Opinion leaders,politicians should not politicize security matters, mwananchi take what the politician has aid as the gospel truth”Omari warned.

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Female genital mutilation has been the major contributor for fistula cases among the Orma and Somali women in Lamu county.

Witu hospital in charge Ben Mwarabu said that all the 90%  referrals from the community (chalaluma,DideWaride) are difficulties in delivery as a result of mutilation that has been done.

The medical officer said that the mothers attended to at the facility majority end up not going home with the kids since they die during delivery as a result of difficulties during delivery.

He said that they normally get calls from the communities for referrals mostly at night after the tradition birth attendant has not successfully been able to assist the mother to give birth, complicating the delivery more.

"What I am urging expectant mothers from the Orma and Somali communities is to visit any health facility when they are due to avoid unnecessary complications that we have witnessed while assisting them to give birth"said Mwarabu.

 He said that the areas they get calls are dangerous to get to, the villages are in very dangerous areas.

"When I get a call from Chalaluma or Dide Waride I have to first plan how to get to the area since there are no roads,as a medic at night I cannot endanger the lives of  my workers since the area is very insecure" Mwarabu added.

Mwarabu also added that those that come to deliver have been married off at a very early age saying that when delivery due to their age, the body not we'll formed they end up getting fistula from the complications.

"It is very hurting and demoralizing to a medic who assists a mother to deliver only to lose a child or a mother during delivery, most of the young mothers who come to deliver had been married off at a very young tender age making them get fistula due to complications" the medical officer added.

Witu division assistant county commissioner Emmanuel Koech has given parents of the Orma and Somali communities who are marrying off their young girls to old men a Stern  warning to stop.

Koech said that the division that has the communities who are known to marry off their young girls at a tender age will be arrested and prosecuted.

The administrator said that the young girls are supposed to be in school not making them mothers at a tender age saying that is destroying their lives.

Koech said any parent found marrying off their daughters will be arrested and taken to court saying that some traditions have already been passed by events and times.

This comes after the Lamu chief of staff Mohamed Bute is alleged to have married a 16 year old girl from Chalaluma.

The administrator said that such traditions have already been passed by time,the girl child is supposed to be in school learning not a wife.

Sentiments were echoed by area member of the county assembly Jonathan Mketta who said that 98%of young girls who are supposed to be in school today married off to old women per the traditions.

Mketta said alot of Civic education need to be done to the community citing that even the most educated, serving big positions in government when at the village doesn't have a voice on the vice being done.

"Even those in big offices or have big positions in government do not have a voice on any traditions being practiced they cannot point out on either early marriage or even female genital mutilation for fear of being rejected by the community" said Mketta.

He said that the chiefs, their assistants are supposed to use their offices strictly to make sure that the girl child from the Orma community gets education instead of being married while young.

"The exercise can be stopped by the chiefs and their assistants if at all they are serious but how can they fight it yet they are marrying such young girls, they have to be an example" said Mketta.

The MCA said it's a collective matter that will not be taken lightly by the communities practicing it saying that the communities have to be involved.

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