Clergy joins fight against crime and drugs in Itivanzou

Church leaders have also offered to help deal a death blow to teenage pregnancies and child marriages as they were retrogressive cultural practices. The men of the cloth made the commitment to be at the forefront in helping combat increased drug abuse and child defilement in the area.

They also agreed to becoming dependable partners in the government's afforestation and environment conservation and restoration efforts.

The resolutions were arrived at during a meeting with the Itivanzou chief, Patrick Mbiti at the administrator's office on Thursday.

The forum sought to mainstream the church in restoring good behavior and morality among the residents and was attended by 34 representatives of various churches operating in the location, said chief Mbiti. It was also attended by the officers in church of the Kamuwongo police station, Police Inspector Charles Kaindi, under whose jurisdiction Itivanzou falls. Also present were Itivanzou assistant chief, Catherine Mutemi, and the area village administrator, Kimanzi Kilonzo.

"The clergy has agreed to collaborate with the chief's office and police  in sharing security intelligence information on illicit brews, illicit drugs and incidents of defilement," said Pastor Samson Mutemi of Malili Baptist Church.

The Itivanzou New Apostolic Church clergyman, John Mumo said the church would intensify and strengthen its guidance and counseling programmes in their churches to curb early childhood pregnancies and  child marriages. "The clergy will initiate tree planting activities in their respective church grounds as their  contribution to the government's environmental conservation efforts," said Kyamwiu AEPC Church Rev. Patrick Musili.