Photo used for illustration purposes only. Credit: uchar
Across Kenya, more families are quietly confronting the complex realities of raising teenagers in a rapidly changing social environment.
From academic pressure and peer influence to exposure to drugs and online culture, adolescence has become an increasingly delicate stage that demands vigilance, open communication, and emotional resilience from both parents and children.
A concerned parent has taken to the Facebook group PARENTING Teenagers Hub for Kenyan Mum's and Dads to share a growing anxiety over her teenage son, who, despite excelling in his final high school exams, has been secretly smoking marijuana.
In a heartfelt post, the parent, who asked to remain anonymous, described the tension at home after discovering her 18-year-old had taken up weed.
“He initially denied it but later admitted. I asked if he was addicted and needed help quitting, since he knows the effects of weed smoking. He said he wasn’t addicted and that he wasn’t going to do it anymore. He lied. He just got careful,” the mother wrote.
She noted that while the frequency of his smoking might have decreased, the habit persists.
“It keeps me awake daily because I know this path. It never ends well. He is 18yrs, and there’s little we can do,” she lamented.
The parent shared that several interventions had been attempted. Pocket money was reduced, and the son was encouraged to engage in extracurricular activities.
She also sent him educational materials, testimonies, and case studies about the risks of marijuana.
Yet, according to her, these efforts have not been sufficient to curb the behavior.
“I can still tell he smokes weed. We are truly frustrated by this matter,” she added, seeking guidance from fellow parents on how to manage the situation.