DCC urges men in Kilifi to fully take up their parental responsibilities

Kilifi, Tuesday, May 16, 2023

KNA by Jackson Msanzu and Emmanuel Mwendwa

Kilifi Deputy County Commissioner Geoffrey Tanui has urged men to take up their parental responsibilities to end social problems that have led to disintegration of families locally.

Speaking during the marking of the World Family Day at Chumani in Kilifi, the administrator said many fathers in Kilifi have neglected their roles while contributing too little to the wellbeing of their families.

According to the information given by parents during community dialogues, Tanui further revealed that men indulge in drinking and leave all responsibilities to their wives including feeding their children and paying school fees.

This trend has rendered fathers insignificant heads of their families while women strain to bring up their children single-handedly.

“Nowadays fathers are no longer the family breadwinners. They leave in the morning and go to drinking dens while leaving their wives with that responsibility thus making the women become heads of their families,” he said.

“Why give birth to over six kids without the ability to raise them? That's a burden to yourself. We must take responsibility and raise our kids,” he added.

Malindi Sub-county Social Development Officer Harrison Mwakumi commented on the parenting laxity by men saying they have become dormant in executing their roles leading to endless family woes.

He attributed the cases of early pregnancy and drug abuse to the failure by parents to cater to for their children's basic needs including education.

Mr Mwakumi added that women have also contributed to the parenting woes, especially those who leave the country to work abroad while taking their children away from their husbands.

“Contrary to the past, skipping parenting roles in this generation has risen. Our daughters are going abroad to do domestic jobs leaving behind their children to their grandparents or relatives to take charge,” he said.

According to the Maendeleo ya Wanawake Chairperson Ms Witness Tsuma, polygamous marriages have been a threat to the welfare of many families since men in Kilifi marry beyond their capacity ending up with neglected families.

The high poverty rates in Kilifi County, she said, could not support polygamous marriages.

The chairperson advised the men to marry within their economic reach to effectively bring up their families.

Courtesy; K.N.A