Written by Were Kelly
What began as a nightmare for one family in Malava, Kakamega County, has ended in relief, but not without raising serious questions about how we, as a society, navigate the delicate art of parenting teenagers in the 21st century.
Clinton Mengo, the teenage boy who left home on Thursday, June 5, after a disagreement with his mother, has since been found safe and reunited with his family, according to sources close to the family. His disappearance had sparked an emotional response online after a handwritten letter he left behind painted a picture of a child burdened by misunderstanding and hurt.
In the heartfelt letter Clinton left on the family table, the teenager apologized to his mother and explained that he had chosen to leave—not to escape punishment, but to change.
“Hi mum, I know I have made a mistake and I am so sorry for that. Do not worry about me. I will change while away from home; that is why I have decided to leave,” the letter read.
The letter also revealed that Clinton had been falsely accused of stealing a phone, a claim he strongly denied.
“I did not steal Noel’s phone. I don’t even know where he usually keeps it. He forced me to admit to stealing the phone so that you would punish me,” he explained.
But perhaps the most heartbreaking part came when Clinton expressed feelings of not being believed or understood when unwell:
“I have taken my drugs with me and I will continue taking them. Any time I say I am sick, you do not believe me.”
Clinton’s disappearance and the tone of his letter have set off an outpouring of empathy and reflection on parenting in the digital, emotionally complex age of Gen Z.
Across social media platforms, Kenyans have been voicing their support and sharing thoughts on how to strike the delicate balance between discipline, trust, and emotional support.
Faith Nduku Mutua wrote: “‘Nikisema mimi ni mgonjwa hauamini’ broke my heart. This is a broken child who feels unloved. I pray he is found safe.”
Ebby Kareha shared: “Parenting has no manual. Sometimes these kids push our patience to the limit. May he be found safe and healthy. Please take him for counselling. Conflicts are not solved by running away.”
Another mother commented:
“This generation needs six things in equal measure: guidance, a listening ear, friendship, love, constant correction with love, and prayer. They are a woke generation—you can’t just use force like our parents did.”
While the outcome was positive, Clinton’s temporary disappearance highlighted a common but often overlooked reality: parenting teenagers today isn’t just about setting rules and enforcing them — it’s about building trust, emotional safety, and communication in a world where young people are grappling with pressures we didn’t face at their age.
Clinton’s mother, like many parents, was doing her best with the tools she had — disciplining out of love and concern. But as she herself asked during the ordeal:
“How do parents with boys aged between 11 and 18 correct and discipline their sons, especially when they repeat the same mistakes?”
It’s a fair question,one many parents are afraid to voice aloud. The truth is, there is no perfect formula. But stories like Clinton’s offer an opportunity for all parents to reflect, recalibrate, and reconnect.
Children today are more expressive and emotionally aware than ever before.
They are growing up in an information-rich, digital environment where they are constantly exposed to emotional cues.
They are still children, though, and are still learning how to deal with failure, fear, guilt, and humiliation.
Children may internalise correction as condemnation and punishment as rejection if parents only use discipline, especially when they don’t listen intently. Clinton’s decision to run away was not an act of rebellion.
It was an unresolved pain and a plea for pity rather than forgiveness.
Clinton is home. His mother is relieved. But their story should not fade quietly.
It should echo in the hearts of every parent and guardian navigating the turbulent, beautiful maze of raising teens.
This isn’t just a cautionary tale — it’s a call for gentler parenting, firmer connections, and mutual understanding.
In Clinton’s own words, “Please forgive me. I will come back safe and sound.”
He did — and may we all take this moment to ensure our homes are not only shelters, but sanctuaries.
