Boy child neglect to blame for rampant alcoholism, say leaders

Boy child neglect to blame

Leaders in Central Kenya have attributed the sharp increase in drug and alcohol abuse amongst the youths to the neglect of the boy child.

The leaders said that focus has been on the girl child leaving the boys powerless.

This was in the wake of the beginning of the celebrations to mark the International Day against Drug and Illicit Trafficking at Engineer in Nyandarua County.

Those in attendance mentioned that there was need to check on the boy child who has now been thrown into alcohol and drugs abuse, leaving him with a bleak future.

Nyandarua Deputy Governor Waithaka Mwangi, who led the ceremony, said alcohol consumption has ruined the lives of many especially in central Kenya.

He stated that many were being turned into zombies and appealed for concerted efforts from all the stakeholders to fight the vice.

Mwangi expressed that it was shocking that the alcohol being consumed in the region had bearing on married people, noting that many were getting to the 50-year mark without a family.

“This is not alcohol but poisonous chemicals meant to kill our people, we know alcohol loves women but the one youths are drinking here is totally different,” He said.

The county chief added that what happened in Nyeri recently was not isolated as other regions are set to follow if the actual problem was not solved.

He said that Nyandarua County has made significant strides to eradicate the menace, noting that though the enactment of the Alcohol Control Act was delayed, consumption levels had dropped.

“We never collected licenses for two years owing to various challenges and this led to massive losses in revenue collection,” he mentioned.

The convener of the meeting, Francis Kairu, said the event would be used to rally the county government to construct a rehabilitation center for all drug addicts.

Kairu, who is also a director with Rechabite Boy Child Initiative, said once the institution is completed, it would help bring boys back to the society as well as training them on economic empowerment.

He stated that all school going children would be sensitised on drugs and alcohol abuse, adding that research had shown that substance abuse starts at the school level.

On his part, the County Executive for Sports Peter Gathimba said various sporting activities would be held in all the five sub counties as one way of curbing the alcohol menace.

He said that the events would also be used to sensitise hundreds of youths on the vice and enlighten them on how to make a worthwhile life away from alcohol.

The international day against drug and illicit trafficking will be observed on Saturday with the theme being ‘supporting as opposed to criminalising people who use drugs’.

In Nyandarua, numerous residents began cycling from Njambini and are expected to cover the 70 kilometre distance to the county headquarters as part of the celebrations while creating awareness on the dangers of alcohol abuse.