BY ALBERT NYAKUNDI
The Professional Criminologists Association of Kenya has urged the government to embrace life skills and safety clubs as a key initiative in fighting crime and radicalization in Secondary schools.
PCAK founding chairman Munene Mugambi said this will go along way in ensuring the Youth are not radicalized.
He spoke on Sunday after the launch of a Life Skills and Safety Club at Ngaru girls’ high school in Kirinyaga county on Saturday.
“This is the first club that we have launched in a secondary school in the whole country and we intend to roll out similar initiatives nationally.” Mugambi said.
PCAK is a professional body mandated to register criminologists in the country among other functions.
He said there is need to educate students on national security adding that the current education curriculum has failed to address security issues.
He wants the ministry of education to implement life skills and safety clubs as a policy.
PCAK’s director of research, training and publication Elijah Kirimi said the initiative is being spearheaded by the association’s youth wing known as PCAK-Youth Envoys.
He is also the Life Skills and Safety Clubs national patron.
He told the students that to excel in life depends on the value of goals that one sets as an individual.
“People out there, including criminals, will take you the way you present yourself. You need to say no to all negative influence” he said.
The Youth wing is made up of young graduates and continuing College and University students.
“Considering that secondary school students are prone to experimentation on criminal acts including drug abuse, human trafficking and radicalization, the club will help students acquire vital skills to handle life and safety challenges.” Kirimi said.
He said government vehicle check unit commander Marcella Andanje and Public works Principal Secretary Paul Maringa are some of Ngaru high school alumni who supported the initiative.
Maringa is the school’s patron.
Andanje is a registered criminologist with PCAK.
The school’s principal Georgina Mathenge said her joy is to see the girl child excel in life.
“Nobody is at peace when a girl child is disadvantaged along her career path through crime, drugs, radicalization, human trafficking among other challenges.” She said.
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