A section of elders from Garissa have called on security agencies and the relevant bodies to crack down on peddlers of drugs and banned substances in Garissa town and its environs.
Led by the National Muslim Leaders Forum (NAMLEF), the elders said that drug and substance abuse in the town has risen to an alarming rate and they cannot seat back as the situation gets out of control.
Addressing the press at a Garissa hotel, the elders however noted that the problem cannot be left to the government alone and the citizen shoud play a role in providing relevant information on the peddlers and consumers alike.
NAMLEF treasurer Mohamed Hassan said that some of the drugs were being sold openly and this has contributed to a surge in daylight robberies and other serious crimes within the town.
“We have to cut off the supply chain. This is the only way we make some strides in the war against drug and substance abuse that is contributing to the ills bedeviling our society today, “Hassan said.
According to NACADA, miraa, bhang and cocaine are among the most abused drugs making the county fall on the organization’s list of counties affected by drug abuse.
“If this problem is not urgently addressed, the situation may escalate out of control and compromise efforts to address insecurity in the town and its environs,” he added.
The elders took issue with the local leaders whom they accused of showing little or no concern as far the problem of drug abuse is concerned.
They cited low public awareness campaigns on the far-reaching health effects on those abusing the drugs.
The elders also took issue with parents and caregivers neglecting their responsibility of shaping the lives of their children to responsible citizens.
Law enforcement officers were not spared by the elders who accused them of being complicit in enabling drug-related activities to flourish.
Livestock marketing council chair Dubat Amey said its time all leaders take the lead in the campaign to combat drug abuse and trafficking in the area.
Amey said that NACADA, law enforcement and community leaders should develop a homegrown strategy to combat drug abuse.
The chairman wondered why suppliers, distributors and peddlers of drugs are not being arrested after receiving information from NACADA and law-abiding citizens.
“Although we don’t want blame games and finger pointing on this sensitize matter, it goes without saying that some rogue security could have been compromised by those involved in this vice. This is very serious,” Amey said.
“We want everybody to take responsibility because it is our problem as a society. Parents, the government, religious leaders, the civil society and all the other stakeholders have a role to play in ensuring that we curb this menace,” he added.
Amey said time has come for a change in the approach in dealing with the menace noting that “the country risks losing an entire generation if something is not done urgently”.
By Jacob Songok
