By DPCS
Worth Noting:
- “I started misusing drugs and alcohol in form two. It was through interaction with other students and I did not think that it would affect me until now. I dropped out of school and joined a group of youth who used to smoke bhang and take alcohol on a daily basis,” says John.
- John added that he has seen his uncles and friends succumb to alcohol abuse one by one and that has informed his decision to quit drinking and starting life afresh.
- “I have seen my uncles die and that is now where I was headed. They did not listen to advice from my grandmother. I have learned from their mistakes. Some of my friends whom I schooled with have also died through accidents after driving while drunk, and it was devastating.
Days after the story of Grace Wahu, a woman who lost her seven sons and a daughter in law to illicit alcohol was aired, prompting the Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua to visit the family, three of her grandsons were yesterday rescued by the office of the spouse of the Deputy President (OSDP) from alcoholism and taken to a rehabilitation centre in Meru.
John Mathia Migwi, 40, John Mathia Wairimu, 25 and Peter Migwi, 28, were moved from their home in Kong’oini Village, Kiharu Constituency in Murang’a County to St. Nicholas Rehabilitation Centre in Meru County, which they will call home for the next three months while getting treatment for alcohol and substance abuse.
The two have been engaging in illicit toxic alcohol, drugs and substance abuse until the intervention and swift action of the Deputy President and his Spouse Pastor Dorcas Rigathi.
John Mathia Wairimu, says he started engaging in drugs and alcohol while in High school through peer pressure prompting him to drop out of the school.
“I started misusing drugs and alcohol in form two. It was through interaction with other students and I did not think that it would affect me until now. I dropped out of school and joined a group of youth who used to smoke bhang and take alcohol on a daily basis,” says John.
John added that he has seen his uncles and friends succumb to alcohol abuse one by one and that has informed his decision to quit drinking and starting life afresh.
“I have seen my uncles die and that is now where I was headed. They did not listen to advice from my grandmother. I have learned from their mistakes. Some of my friends whom I schooled with have also died through accidents after driving while drunk, and it was devastating.
“I am ready to change my ways and ready for rehabilitation,” he said before embarking on the journey of transformation to Meru County from his home in Kongoini, Ol Kalou, Nyandarua.
On his part, John Migwi who has had to undergo several medical surgeries due to alcohol consumption, said his addiction had reached a situation where he would not work before drinking. That made him lose jobs because there was no employer who would give him a job when he was drunk. He also says that he lost his family due to effects of alcohol and he is now regretting and is ready to transform and get his family back.
“Alcohol has destroyed my family. I had a wife and two children but my wife took off after I was not able to provide for my family. I have also been admitted to different hospitals due to the effects of alcohol. Currently, I cannot work without taking a drink first, and this has resulted to missing out on job opportunities because there is no one who is ready to work with a drunk person,” Migwi said.
Migwi is now ready to change his ways and determined to do away with alcohol and drugs abuse so that he does not follow the path of his deceased uncles.
Peter Migwi showed up just before his two cousins left for the rehab requesting that he should not be left out of the rehabilitation because he was also battling with drugs. He was ready with a few clothes in a bag and was looking upbeat.
Peter told of how he had been battling alcohol and despite being a qualified driver, he had lost opportunities due to his excessive drinking behaviour.
“I heard about this initiative from my cousin, I decided to come and see if I will get an opportunity to go for the rehabilitation as well. Since I left school, I have done nothing substantial with my life. I have gone to an extent of stealing and selling things from our home to finance my drinking habits, and I cannot take it anymore.”
He also added: “I had a family but I lost them due to alcoholism. My friends have also died because of alcoholism. I am requesting that this program of rescuing men from alcoholism to take me in, and help me.”
The Office of the Spouse of the Deputy President (OSDP) had to add him to the list of those headed for rehabilitation.
Margaret Wairimu, mother of John Mathia expressed deep gratitide to OSDP for rescuing her son from drugs. She said that she has been traumatised by the death of her brothers and now the son had joined the bandwagon. The effects of abuse of alcohol and drugs in the family were also taking a toll on her health noting that she was the single caregiver of her aging mother.
“I am praying to God that John stops taking alcohol and drugs. He was a good child until when he stopped going to school. He has really affected my health because he is a trouble in the family. I lacked money to have him sent to a rehabilitation but I am thankful to the Spouse of the deputy President for having this program for changing our men,” she said.
When Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua visited Grace Wahu at her home in Kiharu constituency on Sunday last week, he offered to employ Ms Wairimu to cushion her financially as she takes care of the elderly woman. Also, Wahu’s granddaughter whose father is one of the seven who died from the poison that is illicit drinks will be offered a job at the County Government of Murang’a.
The three joined hundreds of others being rehabilitated at St. Nicholas Rehabilitation and Training Centre in Meru County under the OSDP. Pastor Dorcas initiated the programme of rehabilitating those in alcohol and drug addiction under the vision of A Dignified Future for Vulnerable Populations.
At the St. Nicholas rehabilitation centre in Meru on Wednesday evening, the three were admitted and welcomed by the more than 200 at the facility.
Mr, Nicholas Mugambi the Director of the rehabilitation center said that the young men would be introduced to different courses to instill skills and later give them an opportunity for employment, business, and entrepreneurship.
Bishop Barnabas Mpekethi, the Director of the Initiative at the Office of the Spouse of Deputy President said the program would enroll more youth addicted to drugs and post-rehabilitation, they would be trained on diverse courses at a holistic skilling centre in Nyandarua County and later join the marketplace.
“We have hundreds of rehabilitated men undergoing post-rehabilitation training on different courses in Nyandarua County to reduce the rate of relapse as their bodies and minds engage in productive activities including sports and games,” said Bishop Mpekethi.
Bishop Mpekethi led the rescue of the three men and relocation to Meru for rehabilitation.