Narok, Kenya – Narok County Commissioner Isaac Masinde has called upon parents to take proactive measures to protect their children from Gender Based Violence (GBV) as the long holiday period begins, with schools closing.

According to a news release by the Kenya News Agency, Masinde expressed concern about children who are left in the care of relatives or neighbors during the holidays, as they may be vulnerable to mistreatment and exposure to unethical behavior.

Masinde emphasized the need for parents to assume individual responsibility for their children’s well-being, providing guidance and counseling to ensure they grow up with strong moral values. He noted instances where parents appear disinterested in their children’s behavior, allowing them to leave home early in the morning and return late at night without inquiry.

He urged parents to spend quality time with their children to encourage open communication and create an environment where minors feel comfortable discussing the challenges they face.

In addition to his call for parental involvement, Masinde called on non-governmental organizations (NGOs) operating in the area to collaborate with the police to safeguard minors from retrogressive cultural practices such as Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and early marriages.

Masinde issued a stern warning to parents contemplating subjecting their children to illegal practices, emphasizing that they risked arrest and prosecution in a court of law. He stressed the importance of protecting all children from harm and ensuring that no child is disadvantaged due to involvement in illegal activities.

Recently, the Anti-FGM board chairperson, Mrs. Ipato Surum, revealed that FGM prevalence in the county is 51 percent higher than the national average of 15 percent. Mrs. Surum called for a collective effort involving government institutions, religious leaders, and council of elders to reduce this alarming figure.

She noted that unlike in the past when FGM was conducted openly, the practice has now gone underground, with those involved in it operating in hidden locations to evade legal authorities.