Bomet GK Prison has kicked off a one-week training of warders serving at the facility on ways to sensitize them against drug abuse which is on the rise in recent days across the country.
According to the report released by Public Service Principal Secretary Amos Gathecha, the most affected government workers are uniformed officers with cases of suicide mainly in the police and prison departments becoming more common.
In order to deal with this menace Officer in charge of the Bomet prison Tanaka Kebwaro said there was a need for training the uniformed officers on taking life positively.
Kebwero revealed the training will also help the officers familiarize themselves with some of the drugs in a bid to help in combating drug peddling among inmates which he said was becoming rampant.
“As we all know, drugs affect society and the officers in general, and it has become a very serious threat in the country at large and that is why the government has been doing everything possible to ensure that all abused drugs are managed and maintained well,” he said
The PS revealed that those officers who majorly abuse drugs have been in despair for a long time and that has even gone to the extent of ruining their families’ lives.
“We invited Sergeant Nyabera so that he can have a session with these officers and enlighten them on matters concerning drug abuse,” he added.
Sergeant Josiah Nyabera who is a deputy DCIO Chepalungu sub-county stated that his main focus was to reach out to officers working within the correctional department and enlighten them on how drugs have ruined lives and even drained them financially and health-wise.
“As you all are aware, drug abuse has become an alarming issue in the country and most people are not safe. Mental health issues have become rampant and are still rising. That is why we have to find out the reasons for the sudden rise and arrest the situation before it damages our social economy,” Nyabera stated.
He added that it’s important to let people know how these drugs are ruining both their lives and their careers. These officers here are highly qualified and the best way to help them is by giving them meaningful information and trying to understand them more
“Communication is always an important tool and the best way to fight this cause is by having a talk with these officers and find out where the problem is and why they had to resort to these drugs which in return has ruined their career and their health as well,” he said.
Nyabera urged the officers who have been into drugs to seek interventions from counselors.
“I am very aware that most people tend to seek refuge in drugs like alcohol due to stress or traumas that they have found hard to get rid of. But drugs have and will never be a solution to any problem one faces. That is why we have started this program to give more knowledge on these problems” he added.
By Eddah Mutai
