Murkomen Urges Revival of Parental Responsibility as Antidote to Rising Social Ills at RCEA Women Convention

 Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has issued a strong call for families to reclaim their central role in shaping the moral fabric of society, warning that the growing wave of social ills in Kenya is deeply connected to weakened parental involvement and diminishing family values.

Addressing hundreds of women during the closing ceremony of the Reformed Church of East Africa (RCEA) Women League Annual Convention on Sunday, Murkomen emphasized that national stability and social order begin in the home. He anchored his message on 2 Timothy 1:3, stressing the enduring power of prayer, family traditions and intergenerational faith.

“Cultivating a culture of prayer and teaching social mores in our families provides our children with the foundation to live with honesty, discipline and diligence,” he said. “A family’s faith and tradition act as the moral compass and anchor as one navigates life's challenges and demands.”

The Interior CS noted that many of the challenges Kenya currently grapples with — including criminal activities, drug abuse, youth indiscipline, and digital-age misconduct — are often rooted in childhood experiences where parental oversight and moral guidance were absent or insufficient. He cautioned parents against delegating their responsibilities to external influences.

“Parenting is increasingly being left to teachers, pastors, nannies and the internet,” Murkomen warned. “But parenting cannot be outsourced. When parents step back from guiding their children, society pays the highest price.”

Murkomen urged families to revive intentional parenting, grounded in faith, discipline and daily engagement. He underscored that while schools, churches and caregivers play supportive roles, the primary duty of shaping a child’s character, beliefs and behaviour belongs to parents.

He further challenged the church to reinforce family structures, not replace them. He praised the RCEA Women League for offering mentorship, spiritual guidance and community support to thousands of families across the country.

“Strong families build strong communities, and strong communities build a safe and prosperous nation,” he said, adding that the government’s efforts in security and social development depend heavily on what happens within households.

During the convention, women leaders and delegates engaged in sessions on faith, leadership, parenting and community service. The gathering highlighted the influential role of women in sustaining family and societal values.

Murkomen ended his address by wishing the congregants a blessed Sunday, reaffirming that Kenya’s future will be shaped not only by policies and institutions, but by the daily choices families make in nurturing their children.

“As we leave this place today, may we commit to raising a generation rooted in prayer, discipline and integrity,” he said. “Our children deserve no less, and our nation needs no less.”

The event concluded with prayers and renewed pledges from the women to strengthen the moral foundations of their families and communities.