NACADA: Let’s All Unite in The Fight Against Drug Abuse
By Robert Siele,
The National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA) has urged stakeholders to unite in the fight against drug abuse.
Speaking during a tree planting exercise to commemorate this year’s International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking held in partnership with Kericho Township TTI, Wendy Waithaka who serves as a coordinator for NACADA in Kericho and Bomet, emphasized the need to focus on the youth who remain the most vulnerable group.
She said investing in preventive mechanisms starts with the young population who are prone to the menace.
“Investing in prevention means investing in children and young people because when they are safe they are able to develop and stay away from drugs and other problems that affect their lives negatively.” Said Wendy.
She further urged the community to play their part in the fight against drug abuse and any behavior that perpetrates the same.
“When it comes to drug abuse nobody can do it alone, so the best thing is to come together, put our strength together and work on it.” She added.
According to Kericho Township Technical Training Institute principal Shadrack Tonui the exercise came at a time when the institution has admitted a bigger number of students who require close monitoring to prevent drug abuse.
“I am happy that we are joining this credible journey in ensuring that our students are free from drugs and we are happy we are working with NACADA” said the principal.
He added that the institution has developed internal mechanisms to ensure that all students joining the institution focus on their studies free from drugs.
Kericho county chief executive committee member in charge of trade John Cheruiyot said they are revising the issuance of licenses for businesses dealing with alcohol in the county to ensure that they adhere to the set guidelines.
“There was a time you could go to a market or a local centre and find the number of bars exceeding the number of other businesses. That’s what we are addressing now through a number of strategies that we have laid down to ensure that we are able to control the sale of alcohol,” Cheruiyot said.
