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.
Ends….
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