Wananchi Reporting: Let’s bring back the worth of the Kenya's boychild

For decades, the conversation around gender empowerment in Kenya has rightly focused on the girlchild.

Countless campaigns, programs, scholarships and mentorship initiatives have been rolled out to support the girl’s development, education and protection. However, as the nation worked to uplift the girlchild, the boychild silently slipped into neglect.

Today, it is becoming increasingly clear that the Kenyan boychild is fast becoming the forgotten pillar of our society.

This neglect is not only endangering the boychild himself but also shaking the foundation of families, communities and the nation at large.

The boychild in Kenya is grappling with an identity crisis. From a young age, he is taught to suppress his emotions and embrace toughness as a measure of manhood.

Yet, society has largely failed to provide him with safe spaces where he can explore his interests, seek mentorship, or understand his role in a changing world.

While the girlchild receives guidance on self-worth, leadership and resilience, the boy is often left to figure things out on his own.

This has led to a generation of young men who are unsure of their place in society, struggling to balance traditional expectations with modern realities.

Education is one of the sectors where the boychild’s decline is most evident. In recent years, statistics have shown that girls are outperforming boys in national exams and transitioning to higher education in greater numbers.

The dropout rate among boys is steadily rising, especially in rural and informal urban areas, where poverty, drug abuse and lack of mentorship take a heavy toll.

Many boys are lured into petty crime, substance abuse or even radicalisation simply because they lack proper guidance and opportunities to channel their energy positively.

Furthermore, the economic pressures facing many families have shifted the focus toward early responsibilities for boys. While girls are often shielded and encouraged to study, boys are expected to start fending for themselves early.

This unfair burden robs them of their youth and pushes them into survival mode, limiting their chances of long-term success.

They become easy targets for exploitation in casual labor, criminal gangs and political violence, especially during election periods when politicians use them as tools for chaos.

The emotional neglect of the boychild is another growing concern. Kenyan culture does not encourage boys to speak openly about their struggles.

Mental health issues among young men are on the rise, but stigma and societal expectations prevent them from seeking help.

Depression, anxiety and even suicidal thoughts are prevalent, yet very little is done to address these silent battles.

The result is a generation of emotionally wounded men who struggle to form healthy relationships, raise families or participate constructively in society.

The consequences of forgetting the boychild are already being felt across Kenyan homes.

The rise in domestic violence, absentee fathers, broken marriages and teenage delinquency can partly be traced to emotionally unstable and economically disempowered men.

As more boys grow up without proper values, mentorship and a sense of purpose, society is slowly losing the balance between its male and female pillars.

Empowering one gender while neglecting the other creates an imbalance that threatens both.

To address this problem, Kenya must take deliberate steps to reintegrate the boy child into the national development agenda.

Schools, churches, community-based organisations and the government need to create mentorship programs specifically targeting boys.

Platforms that promote emotional literacy, career guidance, and responsible masculinity should be widely adopted. Families must also play their part by nurturing both sons and daughters with equal attention and care. Boys need role models, safe spaces, and assurance that they are valued members of society.

Moreover, the media must begin portraying the boy-child not just as a potential threat or troublemaker but as a future leader, father and contributor to the nation’s progress. Just like the girlchild, he needs encouragement, investment and protection.

Society must move beyond the outdated assumption that boys are naturally strong and independent, and recognise that they too need support to thrive.

Reviving the boychild is not a call to abandon the gains made in empowering girls. Rather, it is a call to walk the journey of progress together, ensuring that no child is left behind.

When the boychild is restored to his rightful place, the family becomes stable, the community becomes stronger and the nation becomes whole.