- He regretted the rampant killing of women and girls saying heavy responsibility to ensure they are safe rests on the parents.
- "What I would advise parents, is put like 90 per cent on the kid and 10 per on external things like security. Guide your child. Talk to them about protective measures," he said.
Image: ERIC OMONDI/INSTAGRAM
As a young father, comedian Eric Omondi has advised parents; current and future, to nurture their children in a way that will encourage trust and openness.
Speaking to The Star on Tuesday, he regretted the rampant killing of women and girls saying heavy responsibility to ensure they are safe rests on the parents.
"What I would advise parents, is put like 90 per cent on the kid and 10 per on external things like security. Guide your child. Talk to them about protective measures," he said.
"Create a relationship where your children are telling you almost everything so that when they grow up, they will never find themselves in situations where they are not safe."
Eric said he endeavours to do the same for his daughter Kyla Omondi so that she can be ready for the future.
This analogy draws precedent for a biblical verse Proverbs 22:6 which says;
"Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it".
The comedian expressed his apprehensiveness over rising cases of femicide, wondering what will happen in the future generations. technology advances.
"As a father to a daughter, it's really scary because you know by the time my baby is 18, the world will have changed so much," he said.
"I keep on asking myself, if my generation is behaving like this how will Kyla's? So I have a fear of the unknown. Will the security be better or worse?"
He revealed that as a parent, he has learnt to rely on prayers, especially during the times he is scared for his daughter's future.
Eric disapproved of the blatant blame and shaming of the victims of femicide.
"We should not shame the victim. Because hujui kesho hata saa ingine mtu anaeza kuwa abducted. For those shaming girls and women, you never know. People out here are evil and cunning. They can lie to you," he said.
"Don't be quick to judge people."
In the last couple of weeks, since the year began, at least five women have been murdered.
According to data from the UN Office on Drug and Crime (UNODC), the total number of female homicides either by intimate partners or family-related in Africa was 20,000.
The continent was leading, with the number being 48,800 worldwide.
It stated that globally, nearly 89,000 women and girls were killed intentionally in 2022, the highest number recorded in the past two decades.
UNODC said to prevent these gender-based killings of women and girls, there is a need for efforts to improve data to better understand the magnitude, nature and consequences of killings of women at high risk.
This is such as women in public life including political life, women human rights defenders and journalists.
The UN office also emphasised the need to address social norms at the individual, community and institutional levels.