Naivasha drug abuse blamed on high unemployment rates

Naivasha Deputy County Commissioner Isaac Masinde blames the increased cases of drug abuse on high levels of unemployment in the county.

Speaking during the second graduation of the Panua Partners in Hope program run by the United Methodist Church, Masinde attested the increased cases to the unemployment rates.

“Only last week we arrested a suspect with 20kgs of bhang and many more youths are engaging in it,” said Mr. Masinde.

Reverend Paul Matheri, however, said the Panua program offers an unemployment solution to these youth.

“The whole drug problem is brought about by the high levels of unemployment but Panua helps these youths to devise new ways of survival, through the 3-year vocational training they undergo”

According to him, life skills taught in the program help in combating social pressure and the pressure of joining military groupings.

“I have been trained as a motorbike mechanic, and I love what the training is doing to me. The society appreciates my work and can now accept me,” said Mercy Wamaitha, a student under the Panua program.