The war on drugs and substance abuse dominated speeches during Eid Prayers at the Rtd .General Mahmoud Grounds in Garissa town leaders calling for collective efforts to contain the habit
Speakers who included Garissa town MP Dekow Mohamed and clerics led by Garissa County SUPKEM secretary Abdullahi Salat called on the government not to relent in the war against the menace.
The calls comes barely a month after the National Government and Administrative officers (NGAO) in partnership with the National Police Service (NPS), the County government, and NACADA mounted a crackdown targeting kiosks, pharmacy shops and peddlers involved in the vice.
The crackdown have however slowed down this month, something the leaders said will again see the drug barons and peddlers resurface.
MP Dekow said that as leaders they have planned for a big conference that will bring together all stakeholders among them political leaders, security apparatus, clerics, parents as well as the youth with the aim being to discuss about the menace and come up with possible solutions to tackle the problem once and for all.
“We all know what drugs and substance abuse have done to our society. And the situation is getting worse by the day. Our youth are wasting away and unfortunately most of the social ills we are having are as a result of the abuse of these drugs, we must all wake to the reality and act now,” Dekow said.
On his part Sheikh Abdullahi regretted that drug use in the area was on the rise saying that it was a big contributor to some of the ills bedevilling society.
“The rate at which our youth are consuming drugs is alarming. The situation cannot continue like this. While we continue to call for the arrest and prosecution of those involved in the illegal business. We need laws that will support the same,” Abdullahi said.
He called on parents not to perform their parental responsibilities by correcting guiding and moulding their children into becoming good people in their society right from an early age blaming some parents for contributing their children going astray.
Two weeks ago, Defense CS Aden Duale speaking in Garissa said the war on drugs and drugs abuse is one which the kenya kwanza government is determined to win.
In Garissa several people have been arrested as the crackdown and arraigned in court.
Several pharmacy outlets have since been shut down with suspects arrested for selling psychotropic drugs commonly used by Miraa consumers.
Speaking in the outskirts of Garissa town at Madarasa Hafsa Bintu Sirin during the graduation ceremony, Duale said that anyone one found be involved directly or indirectly in the illegal business will face the full force of the law.
Garissa County Commissioner Mohamed Mwabudzo said that the government will not relent on its war against drugs and substance abuse expressing his concern that if the situation is not corrected early enough then a generation will be wasted.
By Erick Kyalo
