Kenya Military Vs Al Shabaab Fight should be PG-ed

A protective mechanism is indisputably required to keep safe the Kenyan children who may not be having any idea about what’s presently going on. Too, those young at heart, or even those with brittle souls who may not withstand for long gory details coming out of the ongoing fight, they need to be protected.

The leading reason for this mostly rest in the way the Kenyan media is reporting daily operations. Most exhilarated by the positive progress made by the military have made the killings look so sweet and worth indulging in just like a hobby, when broadcasting prime news. Some anchors even smile and let out grinning faces when telling viewers of how killing was so good for the army now deep inside the lawless neighbour-Somalia.

It’s fine to rejoice when you hit hard an enemy who seems to be jaded and wholly defeated even before the real battle. It’s good for grown-ups who understand the dynamics, the reason for engaging in such battles and importantly why one victorious side decorates deaths caused by them. That’s understandable.

Is it ok too for 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14-year-olds? Your guess is good enough. It’s not ok. First, arbitrary killing is never in their vocabulary and should never. From that debut day they learn to think, speak and hear, they are advised against killing. In schools, matatus, churches (Sunday school), at home and other legal places they are filled with anti-killing codes and messages.

Now, the contrary is happening. A lot of killing, by the Kenyan forces, is happening in the battle field and being reported ably by the local media. Should we expect the young minds to crunch for themselves the scenario and know it’s a legal act of murder-which is probably new to them because they have not been taught of such-and praise the military alongside their adults? Should they? Guess they are not able to do that.

The only way to avoid such contradictions and keep safe our children is to ‘PG’ the military/Al Shabaab news. It may help, though minimally, but at least parents/guardians would have been warned prior to the broadcasts and allowed to keep off their young ones or provide guidance. In addition to this, children should be made aware on how this fight is necessary and allowed despite going against major religious teachings which bar all sorts of acts of squeezing out human life.