Alarm raised over rising child neglect in Mbeere South, Embu
Embu Woman Rep Jane Wanjuki (3rd left) chats with Ms Nalea Gachoni Muturi, 90, who is taking care of 12 orphaned grandchildren. On the left is Mbeere South Deputy County Commissioner Beverly Opwora who said her office is receiving many complaints of failed marriages especially among teenagers. PHOTO | CHARLES WANYORO | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
The local children’s office is recording many cases of broken families especially among the youth.
Muguka has contributed to social evils which result to child neglect, children dropping out of school dropout and early marriages.
Embu Woman Rep Jane Wanjuki appealed to residents to embrace traditional food crops to maximise yields.
Mbeere South Deputy County Commissioner Beverly Opwora has raised the alarm over the high number of children in the area suffering neglect due to family break-ups.
The break-ups, mainly affecting young couples, have been attributed to muguka farming.
She said the local children’s office is recording many cases of broken families especially among the youth, many of them teenagers, who rushed into early marriages after getting quick money from the muguka stimulant.
Speaking when she and Embu Woman Rep Jane Wanjuki visited Oasis of Peace Children’s home in Gachoka Village, Ms Opwora said most children end up abandoned or brought up by elderly people.
A man inspects his muguka crop in Umau Village, Mbeere South in Embu County on January 31, 2018. Many teenagers in the area are starting families while still young due to high income from the crop. PHOTO | CHARLES WANYORO | NATION MEDIA GROUP
MUGUKA EFFECTS
She said that although the crop has helped in uplifting livelihoods in the area due to high income flow, it has also contributed to social evils which result to child neglect, children dropping out of school dropout and early marriages.
“Those in the muguka industry are mainly youth and start families at an early age and many don’t take good care of the families. Many then turn to elderly parents to take care of their children. They are not really mature to raise families and thus pose challenges,” said Ms Opwora.
They also visited Ms Nalea Gachoni Muturi, 90, who is taking care of 12 orphaned grandchildren, among them twins.
Ms Wanjuki also promised to build a house for one of the elderly women who is in dire need and buy a wheelchair for another youth who became paralysed two years ago.
POVERTY
“What I am doing today is merely first aid. I am giving them fish today but I will also teach them how to fish so that they can become self-reliant. It is sad that many women are languishing in poverty and don’t have decent homes,” she said.
At the same time, the MP promised Embu residents of continued supply of relief food due to the expected crop failure as a result of drought.
She also appealed to residents to embrace traditional food crops to maximise yields due to changing weather patterns that have seen decrease rainfall.
