The fight against drug trafficking in the border county of Marsabit has escalated to schools where anti-drug and substance abuse clubs have been formed.
The spread of the menace among secondary school students and other learners has reached worrying levels amid calls that awareness campaigns against the vice be intensified.
An anti-drug abuse and substance abuse campaign event organised by the National Authority for the Control of Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA) for secondary schools in Saku constituency held at the local Catholic Hall stakeholders noted that the problem was a threat to the current youth generation in Marsabit County.
Marsabit ACK bishop Daniel Qampicha while calling on a collaborative effort in handling the menace observed that places of worship have also been adversely affected by the menace.
Bishop Qampicha said the number of youth faithful has been on the decline in different religious devotions while disruptive behavior was increasingly on the rise among the group.
The bishop asked stakeholders who include non-governmental organizations to come up with strategic campaign programs while the government should consider declaring the drug and substance abuse in the country a national disaster.
“The divorce rate involving youth couples is alarming and the gender-based violence (GBV) is also worrying among this group,” he said and pointed out that if the situation is not promptly arrested, it could rob the country a generation.
The event saw anti-drug and substance abuse clubs launched in 14 secondary schools within the constituency which the county commissioner Nobert Komora termed a deliberate move aimed at sustaining awareness about the problem not only among students but the youth at large.
Mr Komora said the government was concerned that the vice had penetrated learning institutions adding that law enforcement agents continued to devise methods of curtailing the trafficking in drugs and substances.
The county commissioner urged parents to take a more active role in character molding of their children whom he said were reeling from the heavy peer pressure burden about external cultures.
He said the anti-drug and substance abuse clubs will be used to sensitize school communities on the dangers attached to the vice with the members expected to conduct civic education with the help of NACADA in the villages during holidays.
Mr Komora attributed the presence of the drugs and substances especially bhang from proliferation from a neighbouring country whose border with Kenya is porous.
He warned that the war against the vice would be heightened adding that those engaging in unlawful activities will be hunted down and punished in accordance with the law.
“We are not going to relent on this fight as the government and I appeal to other stakeholders and especially the community to boost the effort through collaboration and timely reporting to our security agencies” said the county commissioner.
In their contribution, student representatives said the fraternity is made vulnerable because drugs and substances to abuse are readily available in Marsabit town and residential estates.
They pointed out that the urge to experiment which is also propelled by peer pressure is being exploited by peddlers particularly those dealing with bhang and miraa.
Indulgence in drugs and substances is also feared to trigger premature and careless sexual activities among local secondary school students and primary school learners hence the persistent prevalence of teenage pregnancies and diseases.
According to the local sub-county police commander Edward Ndirangu Drug and substance abuse is a challenge to the community and is taking a toll on the youth.
Mr Ndirangu said the plan to hold open forums to speak out about the menace was timely as it assisted in bringing out the seriousness of the matter and prompt action from stakeholders.
The sub-county police commander called for collaboration between members of the public and the police to eradicate the vice which he regretted was widespread.
“Peddlers of these illicit drugs and substances keep on changing tactics to avoid arrest but I can assure the residents that we will not accord these crooks space to carry out their underhand deals” Mr Ndirangu assured.
Each club consists of 32 members who are picked along diversity and gender lines and are expected to give momentum to the anti-drug and substance abuse campaign programs in learning institutions.
NACADA representative in the county Fredrick Ochieng called for the establishment of a rehabilitation centre in the county for recovery of persons rescued from the menace.
Mr Ochieng said availability of a reoccupation facility would assure victims of good care and medication as those currently recovering from drug and substance addiction are forced to cater for treatment costs.
“Those who have undergone rehabilitation are at a risk of sliding back because they are not accessing medication at local public health facilities” he said adding that he has to solicit money to buy monthly prescriptions for two cases from well-wishers.
He described the drug and substance abuse problem in Marsabit as bad saying the presence of bhang and illicit alcoholic drinks was appalling.
During the event, inmates from the Marsabit GK prison depot narrated how they found themselves in conflict with the law for involvement in drug peddling which they regretted had disrupted their lives.
By Sebastian Miriti
