By LUCAS NG’ASIKE

It is midday at the homestead of a grandmother, 75, at Chebokokwa village, Keiyo North District. We find her tending to sheep tethered in her compound. Milling around her are several children. Having been informed of her predicament, we see first hand what she has been going through daily.

Cheboi, like several grandmothers in the county, have been left to do chores like tending to livestock and taking care of their grandchildren.

Not that they are orphans, but their parents have taken to alcohol and forgot about raising their children.

Cases of children being neglected in the county have sharply increased with children officers blaming it on alcoholism.

Cheboi has been forced to care for her grandchildren after their parents neglected them.

When The Standard visited the family on Thursday, there was no sign of the parents and the elderly woman was taking care of her grandchildren.

It is evident from the way the children cling to her that she is the only one they rely on for care and love.

Married again

One child is barely four, and keeps clinging to his grandmother’s clothes muttering “mama, mama” as he follows her around. The child has learnt to see his grandmother as a mother.

As Cheboi spends time with the young ones, a Class Four girl just from school is busy in the kitchen preparing dinner.

“The father spends most of the time in the drinking dens and resurfaces only at night when he retires to bed without even inquiring about the welfare of the kids while the mother left and got married again in Baringo County,” the grandmother said.

She said the parents, who have eight children, started taking alcohol soon after marriage.

She said the couple would always fight after a drinking spree, which led to their separation. She was then forced to look after the children.

“Sometimes the chief would spot them in Iten town — four kilometres away — and bring them back here,” added the grandmother.

Neglect issues

Area chief Fredrick Keitany said he has tried to arbitrate on the matter for the parents to take care of the children to no avail.

“I have held several meetings in this home trying to compel the parents to look after their children but alcoholism has taken a toll on them and they reneged on their promise to change,” said the chief.

Fortunately, Mr Keitany has ensured all children go to school and he regularly visits the family with the help of the children’s aunties and neighbours. “Some relatives have adopted the children to relieve the old woman of the duties of looking after them,” he said.

Keiyo District Children Officer Jenipher Chepngeno said among the cases of child abuse reported to her office, 80 per cent comprise child neglect issues where either or both parents desert their obligations.

“Our office is overwhelmed with cases of child neglect and our research has revealed that alcohol consumption is to blame,” she said.

The officer said they are alarmed that even women, who are traditionally known to be children caregivers, have since become heavy drunkards.

She notes on several occasions they have referred extreme cases to the law courts so that parents could be compelled to take care of their children.

Chepngeno said laws governing alcohol should be reinforced to guarantee safety of children.

Elgeyo/Marakwet Governor Alex Tolgos has vowed to deal with the alcohol abuse menace, which he says has impeded development in the area. He regretted that over consumption of alcohol had corrupted societal morals.

“Alcohol abuse is a major problem in this county and it is among my top priorities to deal with. With the help of the security agencies, we will strictly enforce laws pertaining brewing and consumption,” he said.