By John Kamau
A lobby group has raised alarm over increasing alcoholism rates among youths in the country and especially central Kenya.
Rose Kirika Foundation; a group led by Kiambu County Deputy Governor Rosemary Kirika, claims that most youths in the region have resulted to alcoholism and drug abuse due to frustrations in life including unemployment and poverty.
The group maintains that deliberate and concerted efforts must be adopted so as to salvage and free the youth from the shackles of brews and substance abuse.
Speaking while marking the first anniversary of the Foundation at a Nairobi Hotel over the weekend, Mrs Kirika said she was jostled into taking action after realizing that a large number of those who attend political meetings are usually intoxicated and in a state of despair.
“During the 2022 campaign period, I observed that a big percentage of those who attended the political rallies were intoxicated and I resolved that if God gave us the favour to lead Kiambu County, one of my main objectives would be to restore sobriety in our society,” she said.
Kirika said that her Foundation has been focusing on Psychological training and advocacy, economic empowerment of reformed addicts as well as talent development adding that they will adopt a family approach to complete partnering with corporates, academic institutions, expert trainers, churches, the government and other stakeholders to ensure success of the fight.
During the event, Rev Fredrick Ngugi-a Board Member of the National Authority For the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA), said statistics show that at least 4.1 per cent of men in Nairobi and Central Kenya are addicted to alcohol.
“About one in six people is using one or another drug or substance and the most affected are men because one in every three is using either drugs or alcohol. The initiative by this foundation is worth our support and especially to fight the menace in Central region which is worst affected by the menace,” the official said.
He noted that Nacada will partner with Rose Kirika Foundation in conducting trainings on prevention and treatment including the aftercare handling of the affected in the region with target areas being schools and tertiary institutions.
Economic Empowerment
Meanwhile, Mrs Kirika made a clarion call to the youth urging them to turn their creativity and education into tools for self-reliance and economic empowerment rather than languishing in hopelessness over unemployment.
She asserted that many of the world’s most successful businesses were built from scratch by daring individuals who turned their dreams into action.
Kirika expressed concern over the rising levels of joblessness, which she said had pushed many young people into depression, hopelessness, and substance abuse.
She divulged that her Foundation in partnership with Bellafam Africa and Equity Bank has already imparted crucial apiculture training to youth and farmers’ groups within Kiambu County.
The programme is aimed at providing farmers with an alternative source of income. They were trained on general beekeeping, honey bee biology and behavior, bee botany, beekeeping equipment, honey bee diseases, pests and predators, hive products processing and marketing and product utilization and quality control.
During the event, a section of youths led by Peter Kuria who is also one of the Foundation’s mentees highlighted the urgent need for grassroots-level interventions to combat drug abuse and foster empowerment for youths.
Similar sentiments were echoed by Maryanne Waithera who rallied both the National and county governments to support and fund youth-led ventures and especially agricultural activities.
Waithera- a Biotechnology graduate who now deals with Azolla farming- noted that if well supported, agriculture can absorb a significant number of unemployed young people and contribute meaningfully to food security and economic growth.
Dr Sonvir Singh, the Group Chairman at Shri Krishana overseas Ltd who was the chief guest at the event called on community members, leaders, and institutions to rally behind initiatives that promote youth development, entrepreneurship, and mental health awareness which he described as critical pillars in reversing the tide of unemployment and substance abuse.
Mt Kenya Times