Bomet Governor, Prof. Hillary Barchok, has raised concerns over drug and alcohol abuse among the county’s residents.
Barchok said there has been increased drinking and abuse of drugs, especially bhang, among the youths.
He said the trend threatened the future of young people, while endangering the social fabric through moral decay.
Concerned with the threat, the governor said his administration has put in place measures to provide alternative sources of income to the youth and women, who have cited lack of employment as the reason why the youth drink and why women engage in the brewing and selling of illicit brews.
He said the County Government had revamped Vocational Training Colleges, in order to provide the youths with various technical skills that would enable them to start their own businesses and projects at the village level.
Barchok said his Administration has rolled out ‘mama na kuku’ program that donates ‘kienyeji’ chicken to women’s groups, as a head start to setting up their own poultry farms.
“We are also reviewing modalities on how we are going to issue operating licenses to alcohol outlets, in a bid to reduce the number of bars and wine and spirits shops in the county,” he said.
Barchok further urged the security agencies and the National Government Administration to work with the judiciary so that offenders were convicted.
By Kipngeno Korir
