IOSR Journal Of Humanities And Social Science (IOSR-JHSS) Volume 22, Issue 7, Ver. 16 (July. 2017) PP 64-74 e-ISSN: 2279-0837, p-ISSN: 2279-0845. www.iosrjournals.org DOI: 10.9790/0837-22070166474 www.iosrjournals.org 64 | Page Factors Leading To Premature Deaths of Male Youths: A Case of Karũri Village, Kĩambu County-Kenya Prof. P. N. Wachege 1 , Florida G. Rũgendo 2 1 (Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies, University of Nairobi, Kenya, patrickwachege@yahoo.com) 2 (PhD Candidate, Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies, University of Nairobi, Kenya, fkamakia@gmail.com) Corresponding Author: Florida G. Rũgendo ABSTRACT: If there are people in today’s society who need a lot of attention, it is the youth - more so the male youngsters. Statistics show that Kenya is predominately a youth country, the so called ambitious digital generation. Despite this reality, a keen observer will be seriously disturbed by the high rate of premature deaths among the male youth. The current study investigates the factors leading to numerous premature deaths of male youth in Karũri village, Kĩambu County while engaging qualitative research using a case study design to collect data through documented sources, questionnaires and interviews. Among the findings is that the male youth is faced with several serious challenges including unemployment, peer pressure and lack of proper mentorship that trigger disturbing early demise among them. These challenges have lured them to acts which lead to their premature death. The study uncovers a lack of adequate action by parents, Church and the government aimed at averting the anomaly and helping the youth accept themselves together with their potentialities as they utilize their time, talent and potency towards becoming useful responsible members in society hence the concern of the study. Keywords: Male youth, Premature death --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Date of Submission: 11 -07-2017 Date of acceptance: 26-07-2017 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I. INTRODUCTION If there are people in today’s society who need a lot of attention, it is the youth - more so the male youngsters. A cursory examination shows that there are many sad malevolent forces and negative factors in our society today working singly or collectively to cut the life of the male youths prematurely reducing others to existential weaklings. It was traditionally inconceivable for a young man to die before the parents. Statistics show that Kenya is predominately a youth country with 75% of the population comprising of youth under 35 years, the so called ambitious digital generation and also the future leaders (GoK 2015). Youth is a condition of being immature, young and inexperienced. More and more of male youngsters are living hopeless and helpless lives rather than being vibrant and resourceful, and are not taking their responsibility within the family and society as expected. The lives cut short by premature death of these future leaders certainly exacerbate the situation and spells doom for the wellbeing of the society and the nation. A discourse on factors leading to such deaths with a view to seeking a lasting solution and bring the youth back to productive life is therefore necessary. The phenomenon of today’s numerous premature deaths of youth is undesirable. Considering the plight of the youth, one is reminded of the funeral procession of the only son of the widow of Nain, who the mother expected to live his full life (Lk 7:11-17). Jesus the liberator par excellence took the initiative empathizing with the mother as He resurrected her son to continue playing the expected role of a son for the good of the family in particular and the community in general. Such empathy could be extended to deal with the plight of the youth as witnessed in Karũri village which is a multi-ethnic Nairobi suburb in Kĩambu County. The city lifestyles bring new values that cause negative influence on the youth in Karũri village which is predominantly Roman Catholic in faith affiliation. The Roman Catholic Church (henceforth RCC) is an ecclesial institution with numerous well performing schools and institutions catering for both gender, Church backed Microfinance banks, hospitals, and youth centers to its credit as well as strategically built Church centers and highly educated celibate Priests and Religious men and women. Moreover it is renowned for its reputable Encyclicals and Exhortations on family. Yet the critical problem of premature death of male youth is real even in Karũri village where the RCC Parish is situated. All these issues provoke our kind of investigation.