Lack of ambition pushing Majengo youth to drugs and idleness, say elders
Elders in Majengo, Mombasa, report that a lack of ambition and parental neglect are driving local youth toward drug abuse and idleness. Community leaders are attempting to intervene by connecting school dropouts with vocational training and employment opportunities.
Why it matters
This highlights the socio-economic challenges facing urban youth in Kenya and the role of community-led initiatives in addressing unemployment and substance abuse.
Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Nassir at the Majengo Village Hall on Monday /BRIAN OTIENO Majengo Community Organization chair Abdalla Dadala [L] and Majengo chief Aisha Orowe at the Majengo Village Hall on Monday /BRIAN OTIENO Most youths in Majengo, Mombasa, have resorted to drug abuse and idling because they lack ambition, elders have said.
Majengo Community Organisation chairman Abdalla Dadala attributed the problem to school dropouts and parental neglect.
He said said many youths who leave school prematurely have little interest in furthering their education or acquiring vocational skills, choosing instead to idle around, smoke bhang and chew khat. Some eventually turn to crime, tarnishing the image of the Majengo community.
The MCO, whose membership largely comprises residents aged above 50, was formed to address long-standing challenges affecting the area, including land issues, youth unemployment and lack of mentorship.
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