The plea came from County Commissioner Eddisson Nyale, who said a multi-agency team has been put in place to deal with those selling drugs and illicit alcohol.

Uasin Gishu County commissioner Dr Eddisson Nyale (L) with Director of Comido School, Bishop Boniface Simani during a ceremony at the school

Uasin Gishu parents and guardians have been asked to remain alert and help authorities curb abuse of drugs and alcoholic drinks during this long holiday.

The administrator said Eldoret has a huge population of youth and lies along the strategic northern corridor, making it an easy target for drug dealers.

“We have already put structures in place to ensure vehicles dealing in illicit trade will not penetrate through the city, and those arrested will face the full force of the law,” Nyale said.

He said parents who neglect their children risk legal action if their children are found loitering, abusing drugs or engaging in other inappropriate behaviours.

He spoke at Comido School in Huruma estate within Eldoret during a prayer day and pre-school graduation ceremony.

Nyale said parents who fail to protect and take care of their children will not be spared by the government.

“I would like to encourage every parent and guardian to be keen on who their children interact with, know where they play, who their friends are, and where they send them, and to have a clear understanding of their environment,” he said.

“Some people might try to lure these children into bad behaviours such as early experimentation with drugs, alcohol and other substances that are harmful to their health. Parenting is a fundamental responsibility that cannot be abdicated to teachers alone or to the state.”

The administrator urged young people who have attained the age of 18 to acquire identity cards and register as voters.

Director of Comido School, Bishop Boniface Simani, appealed to parents to remain very close to their children during the long holiday and ensure they are protected from substance abuse.

“We are handing over these children when they are safe and without injuries. We will be very happy as a school to see them again in January next year with no injuries and in the same good condition. Let them not be neglected at home,” Simani said.

The bishop urged parents to ensure their children uphold good behaviour as a way of avoiding challenges that many young people face in foreign countries and during recruitment processes, where agencies have strict zero-tolerance drug policies that cause many to fail to qualify after testing positive for illicit substances during medical examinations.

Uasin Gishu principal immigration officer Dorcas Okwayo emphasised the importance of schools offering international programmes, while collaborating with parents in advance so that learners secure passports early.

“Securing a child’s passport early ensures they are always eligible for unexpected international exchange programmes and school trips without any application delays and complications,” Okwayo said.