Religious leaders and counselors in Embu County have raised alarm over the growing absence of fathers and male role models in the Mount Kenya region, urging men to actively mentor the boy child.
Speaking at Tenri School during a ceremony to release boys who had completed the circumcision rite of passage, Bishop John Mwangi of Seed of Hope Ministry highlighted the negative impact of male absenteeism in homes and communities. He noted that many young men are left vulnerable to harmful influences due to the collapse of traditional mentorship structures.
“It is unfortunate that responsibilities which culturally and biblically belong to fathers and uncles, especially during rites of passage, have been left to women,” Bishop Mwangi stated. He added that alcoholism, drug abuse, and miraa chewing have replaced men’s traditional roles, leaving boys without proper guidance.
The clergy warned that the lack of male mentorship has contributed to rising behavioral challenges among young men, who increasingly turn to peers or social media for direction instead of responsible adults.
Tenri School Director Kariuki Njogu emphasized that the school has incorporated counseling sessions for boys during the initiation period to guide them through critical stages of their development. He urged parents to remain actively involved as their sons transition to senior school, a period he described as one where many young men “lose their way.”
The director also called on community leaders, churches, teachers, and government agencies to collaborate in developing programs that protect and nurture the boy child, who faces mounting societal pressures.
Parents present at the ceremony expressed support for mentorship initiatives, pledging to equip their sons with life skills and provide safe, structured pathways into adulthood. They highlighted the importance of collective responsibility in raising well-rounded young men.
Bishop Mwangi concluded that reclaiming mentorship roles is essential to reversing the crisis affecting the boy child, urging men across Mt. Kenya to actively participate in shaping the next generation.
