The government is committed to employ various strategies with the aim of protecting learners from being indulged to drugs and alcohol abuse, Interior Cabinet Secretary Prof. Kithure Kindiki has said.
On Friday when presiding over the prize giving ceremony at St Germaine Gatanga Girls High School, Kindiki said those selling drugs and alcohol to students that their days are numbered.
He issued a stern warning to drug peddlers, terming them enemies of the country who are out to ruin the future of young people.
“Currently it’s unfortunate our children have been lured into drugs by people who are merciless and just greedy for money! The security officers will employ all means to crackdown on the criminals availing and introducing drugs to our school going children,” he remarked.
Drug traffickers, Kindiki noted, will be fought the way the government is dealing with terrorists and bandits.
“A person who is targeting to spoil the future of a child, is like a terrorist and the vigor and strength we are using to fight bad elements and bandits will also be employed to ensure our learners are protected from drugs and alcohol,” he added.
Kindiki continued: “All national government administration officers must be alert and ensure that no one lures our children into drugs and alcohol. As a government we must protect our boys and girls from such criminals who want to destroy a generation.
The CS further observed the presence of liquor outlets near learning institutions is also highly contributing to increased drug abuse among students.
“All bars near schools will be closed. We ask the county governments not to license any liquor outlet near learning institutions so as to protect our children,” he stated.
He called on parents and other education stakeholders to collaborate to ensure the war against drug and alcohol abuse among learners is won.
“As parents, teachers and both political and community leaders, we have a duty and responsibility to help our children to be the best and take over from us in the future,” he remarked.
Meanwhile, the CS said the government was committed to provide a conducive learning environment by improving schools infrastructure.
He noted in the country budget, a big allocation of funds went to the education sector to support provision of bursaries and improving infrastructure to ensure students study without challenges.
Some of the leaders who accompanied Kindiki lauded the new funding method to university and college students.
Kangema MP Peter Kihungi said the new plan is aimed to ensure children from poor backgrounds benefit a lot and that they don’t drop out of their studies due to lack of fees.
“The government has come up with a new way of funding education of learners in colleges and universities and the method is better since children from poor backgrounds will get almost 98 percent scholarship,” he added.
By Bernard Munyao
