Leaders in Kilifi County have challenged parents to take charge in dealing with their children so as to address the increased cases of indiscipline within schools in the country.

This follows the recent unrest in schools with the death of 16 students at Utumishi Girls High School in Gilgil, Nakuru County after some students allegedly burnt a dormitory.

There have also been a series of attempts to burn dormitories in some schools across the country that led to the institutions suspending learning and giving students a break.

Deputy Minority leader of the Senate Stewart Madzayo who is also the Senator for Kilifi said children are taken to school to study not to burn schools.

He called on parents to teach their children good morals and discipline to prevent such cases being witnessed in the learning institutions.

“Teach your children to have good behaviour. They go to school, learn, succeed and go to another level of education until they reach university,” he said.

On her part, Malindi MP Amina Mnyazi said she had nothing against boarding schools and no need to shut them down but ensure dormitories have enough facilities to deal with fire.

Kilifi County CEC for Education Felkin Kaingu said the indiscipline cases in schools was worrying as students were burning schools, terming it an unacceptable situation.

He said discipline of children starts at home and urged parents to emphasize on discipline of their children.

Brian Kirui the Assistant County Commissioner Langobaya (ACC) Division said the rising cases of insecurity caused by youth gangs commonly known as ‘mawoza’ are also a result of indiscipline that requires parents to take charge.

He said some of the youth commit crimes in Malindi and escape to the remote areas of Langobaya adding that soon they will be nabbed as the security operation would be extended to those areas.

Recently he said a 19-year-old youth was arrested after he committed a crime in the area and it emerged; he had escaped from Malindi.

Former Kaya Fungo Ward MCA Alphonce Mwayaa claimed there is a devil that has invaded some schools and there was an urgent need for parents to start engaging their children to end the problem.

He said each parent should take responsibility and talk with their children as they have become a threat to their own future.

“If your child is a criminal, it’s better you start taking action now or else you will suffer in the future,” he said.

Mwayaa said what happened in Utumishi Girls was sad as six girls closed a dormitory while fellow students were asleep and set it ablaze.