Interior PS Dr Raymond Omollo has urged parents, community elders and religious leaders in Kakamega County to protect children from abandoning education for gold mining.
He warned that the practice could expose families to long-term economic and social hardships.
Speaking in Shinyalu, Kakamega County, Omollo also called on mothers and elders to take a leading role in guiding young people, maintaining peace and preventing politicians from exploiting them for political interests.
“I want to speak to mothers and elders because you are the people we depend on to ensure the community progresses well. No child from Shinyalu or Kakamega should miss an education opportunity and end up in the mines or elsewhere, leaving the burden on parents and the community,” he said.
The PS cautioned parents against allowing their children to venture into gold mines in search of quick earnings at the expense of their education, saying the consequences would ultimately affect both households and the wider community.
“The children should not go to the hole to dig for gold or other things. At the end, you will lose as a parent, and the community will also be at a loss,” Omollo said.
He urged community elders to take up their traditional responsibility of resolving disputes and promoting peaceful coexistence, particularly as political competition gathers momentum ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Omollo also challenged young people to resist attempts by politicians to use them to advance personal ambitions, urging leaders seeking elective positions to engage in dialogue and present their agendas without creating divisions.
“Our elders must act as mediators. Do not let the youth be misused, and the youth should stay away from bad leaders,” he said.
He added that politicians competing for various seats should continue engaging one another and discussing their development plans rather than allowing their differences to fuel tensions within communities.
The PS further called on the Church to complement its spiritual responsibilities by engaging with broader national issues, including healthcare and community welfare.
“As a church, aside from spiritual nourishment, you also focus on the wholesome issues in a nation. On matters of health, this government has paid keen focus,” he said.
Omollo highlighted the government's healthcare reforms under the Social Health Authority (SHA), saying approximately 33 million Kenyans had registered under the programme.
“At the moment, 33 million Kenyans are registered on SHA. In any clinic, dispensary, Level Four, Five or Six hospital, Kenyans are able to get treated and administered medicine,” he said.
He said access to healthcare should help protect families from financial distress, arguing that Kenyans should not be forced to sell their property or sacrifice their businesses to pay medical bills.
