Kiambu: Chief Urges CS Murkomen to Reinstate Corporal Punishment to Curb Rising Youth Indiscipline

• A Kiambu chief sparked debate after urging the return of corporal punishment in schools during a public security forum
• He linked moral decline among the youth to drug abuse, idleness, and lack of discipline at home and school
• Interior CS Kipchumba Murkomen responded with a pledge to intensify the fight against crime, gangs, and illicit alcohol

TUKO.co.ke journalist Harry Ivan Mboto has more than three years of experience reporting on politics and current affairs in Kenya

The call for a return to the cane in Kenyan schools was revived in dramatic fashion when a chief in Kiambu challenged Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen to bring back corporal punishment.

Speaking during a Jukwaa la Usalama forum chaired by Murkomen on Monday, August 18, Uthiru location Chief Paul Kibara Gaitho warned that society was experiencing a worrying erosion of values, particularly among the younger generation.

He said the youth were increasingly chanting "wantam," a slang phrase meaning one term for President William Ruto, and argued that this reflected a culture of mockery and lack of seriousness.

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"The main challenge probably came from the person, I do not know who, that removed corporal punishment in schools. Currently, we hear the youth chanting wantam," Gaitho remarked.

Kiambu chief wants corporal punishment back in schools

The chief went on to criticise what he described as widespread laziness among young people, blaming drug use, idleness, and a disregard for hard work.

"These people are lazy. They smoke a lot of bhang. They are idlers. They tend to see as if this is heaven. But philosophically, even according to Bible standards, one has to eat from his own sweat. One has to work. The youth do not want that. So they tend to gang up against us chiefs in our service delivery and policy dissemination," he said.

Gaitho further lamented that children were being raised without firm discipline, and later find challenges coping at work, hence turning to drug and alcohol abuse.

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"We are bringing up very weak children. Nobody dares touch them at school. The parents are not bothered. The neighbours cannot even dare correct them. When they get to university, even if they get a first-class degree, they cannot sustain discipline in the job. They are sacked, and turn to alcohol. Eventually, they go to those chang'aa dens," he added.

In response, Murkomen acknowledged the concerns, noting that the government was already intensifying efforts to fight drug and substance abuse, which he said was ruining young lives across the country.

He vowed to take tough action against legitimate businesses found producing adulterated alcoholic drinks in satellite factories, warning that their licences would be revoked.

Are Kiambu gangs extorting money from people?

Murkomen also raised alarm over the growing influence of criminal gangs in Kiambu and beyond, referencing the violent protests on June 25 and July 7 that led to looting of businesses and destruction of public property.

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He said the gangs had now extended their activities to extorting money from passenger vehicles and other small traders.

"We shall also never allow the normalisation of gangs that are extorting passenger service vehicles and other businesses like quarries, denying revenue to the government and hence services to the public," Murkomen declared.

To strengthen security, the government has rolled out a series of measures, including boosting Nyumba Kumi and community policing structures, deporting foreigners implicated in crime, and involving stakeholders such as student leaders, deans of students, boda boda operators, and religious leaders in sub-county security committees.

Is Gachagua's return a security threat?

Addressing the press during the ongoing security tour, Murkomen said the return of former deputy president Rigathi Gachagua posed a potential security challenge.

He noted that security agencies had been placed on high alert ahead of the much-anticipated arrival.

Murkomen pointed out that Gachagua’s absence from the country coincided with a period of relative calm. He suggested that the situation might change once he landed, hinting at possible political tensions linked to his presence.

Source: TUKO.co.ke