New report links alcohol abuse to low school enrolment, child abuse and abandonment in Central Kenya

The numbers of learners in ECDE centres in both public and private schools across the central region continues to decline and experts are pointing an accusing finger at low birth rates and alcoholism. Low ECDE enrolment has resulted in low numbers of students and learners in primary, secondary, university and tertiary institutions. Alcohol and drug abuse has been cited as the major cause of school dropouts and failures in academics as parents and different stakeholders use learners to ferry drugs. In a report presented by Central Regional Director of Education Sabina Aroni during the multisectoral meeting indicated that over a period of four years, the number of children has been dropping across the five counties. She stated as they conducted the survey in Nyeri, Kiambu, Nyandarua, Murang'a and Kirinyaga and noted some parents were drunk especially breastfeeding mothers and most children were feeding on dry breasts and mothers were not aware. "The health of children conceived by an alcoholic is different from that of a non-alcoholic parent," she said. The report shows that in a period of four years, there has been a worrying drop in the number of children enrolling in ECDE blaming it on high levels of illicit alcohol and drug abuse in the region. In 2019 the total number of students who enrolled in ECDE centres in the five counties was 138,045 and in 2023 the number is at 179,777 an increase caused by many residents moving into Kiambu County since it's cosmopolitan. In Nyeri County, the report stated that in 2019 there was an enrolment of 24,009 children but a slight drop was witnessed in 2020 the enrolment was 23,864 due to covid-19 pandemic, the situation has not improved as only 20,253 children enrolled in ECDE centres this year. "There was a decline of about 5,000 children enrolled in ECDEs between 2022 and 2023 in Nyeri County," she noted. In Nyandarua County, the enrolment rate in 2019 was 29,957. There was an improvement in 2022 as the number stood at 36,928 children but in 2023 the number dropped to 33,427. Murang'a County had a total enrolment of 34,829 children and in 2023, there was a total of 33,111 children. In Kirinyaga County, the ECDEs reported an enrolment of 13,302, which declined to 12,419 in 2020, however by 2023, the numbers of pre-schoolers in nursery is 16, 238. Alcohol and child abuse According to Nyeri County Director of Children Services Kungu Mwaniki, who also made a presentation on the link between alcohol and child abuse. "We have cases of abandonment, sexual abuse and crimes committed by children," he noted, adding the abandonment and abuse of children by alcohol-addicted parents which could lead to early onset of sexual activity. According to a presentation done by NACADA Authority Programme Manager Amos Warui 17.5 percent of Kenyans consume drugs and alcohol while in the Central region, consumption is at 18.4 percent with alcohol abuse leading at 12.8 per cent. The report shows the second generation is the biggest challenge in the central region at 4.1 per cent whereas at the national level it is at 2.5 per cent The report also revealed that 6 per cent of children that is primary and secondary school students are under the influence of alcohol while the age between 25 to 35 years is at 14.1 per cent and overall regional statistics stands at 12.8 percent. The population affected by alcohol consumption in Central Region is slightly below 500,000. Regional Director of Criminal Investigation (DCI) Bethwel Oburu said that there was a link between crime and alcohol consumption in the region. In 2021, there was an increase in SGBV such as rape, defilement, and unnatural offences, which has 273, while in March 2023, there are already 156 cases reported. Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, who chaired the meeting, said that the high level of alcohol consumption and drug abuse has made youths fail to sire and are no longer productive. "We have a serious problem of illicit brews, second-generation alcohol and other drugs, if we don't act fast we are about to lose a whole entire generation. We are worried that even hard drugs are being sold in villages and small towns," he said.

New report links alcohol abuse to low school enrolment, child abuse and abandonment in Central Kenya

Get Full Access for Ksh299/Week.

Stand With Bold Journalism.
Stand With The Standard.

Related Topics

Popular this week

Latest Stories

The Standard Insider

Digger Classified

GET OUR NEWSLETTER

CONNECT WITH US

FOR THE LATEST JOB ADVERTS

DIGGER JOBS

Digger Motors

Digger Real Estate

New report links alcohol abuse to low school enrolment, child abuse and abandonment in Central Kenya

Get Full Access for Ksh299/Week.

Stand With Bold Journalism. Stand With The Standard.

Related Topics

Trending Now

Popular this week

Latest Stories

The Standard Insider

Digger Classified

GET OUR NEWSLETTER

CONNECT WITH US

FOR THE LATEST JOB ADVERTS

Stand With Bold Journalism.
Stand With The Standard.