Wavinya Ndeti: Strong parenting key to ending school unrest
By Sharon Atieno, June 4, 2026Machakos Governor Wavinya Ndeti has called on parents to take a more active role in mentoring and guiding their children amid rising cases of indiscipline and unrest in schools, saying strong parental involvement remains key to nurturing a responsible and disciplined generation.
Speaking in a video shared on her X account on Wednesday, June 03,2026, she stressed that the responsibility of raising disciplined learners cannot be left to teachers alone, insisting that values must first be taught and reinforced at home before children report to school.
“I call upon parents to take a more active role in mentoring and guiding their children, especially amid the rising cases of indiscipline and unrest in schools. Strong parental involvement is key to nurturing a responsible, disciplined, and focused generation,” she said.
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Parenting blamed as unrest rises
Wavinya warned that society risks normalising poor behaviour if adults fail to set the right example for children. She stressed that discipline cannot be enforced by teachers alone when the home environment is not reinforcing the same values.
“As we blame these young children, the adults of this country must be very careful. Monkey sees, monkey do. The grown-ups are the problem,” she added.
Leaders point to social media influence
Her remarks come amid concerns from education leaders that unregulated exposure to social media is contributing to unrest in schools. Tinderet MP Julius Melly, who chairs the National Assembly Education Committee, said students are increasingly consuming online content that normalises violence and protest behaviour.
“The unregulated use of social media among our students is making them consume negative content online,” Melly said.
Calls for shared responsibility
Wavinya argued that children often mirror what they observe in society, warning that abusive language and public confrontations among adults are being replicated in schools. She cautioned that when children grow up seeing conflict as normal, it becomes difficult to instil discipline later.
“They are watching how we behave. When adults are fighting and insulting each other, children also learn the same behaviour,” she said.
Ichung’wah echoed similar sentiments, warning that violent conduct in public spaces may be influencing unrest in learning institutions.
The Governor insisted that rebuilding discipline in schools will require a collective effort involving parents, teachers, and leaders, noting that long-term solutions lie in strengthening moral guidance at household level.
She emphasized that restoring order in schools will depend on consistent parenting, stronger values, and responsible behaviour from adults across society.