CS Duale calls for crackdown on drugs, substance abuse in Garissa

Defence Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has called for a crackdown against drugs and substance abuse in Garissa town.

Duale regretted that drug use in the area is on the rise and it was a big contributor to some of the ills bedevilling society.

Bhang, cocaine and miraa are among the most abused drugs making the county fall on Nacada's list of counties affected by drug abuse menace.

The CS said the rate at which youths are consuming drugs is alarming noting that the situation cannot be left unchecked.

“Garissa is now a conduit for Bhang smuggled from Ethiopia to Nairobi resulting in high consumption of the drug among the youth. This should not be happening in this day and age. As a government we will not allow this to continue,” he said.

He was speaking on Monday when he officiated two different graduation ceremonies at the Madrasa Khadija Bint Khuwaylid and Manar Islamic Centre both in Garissa Town Constituency.

The former Garissa Township MP told religious leaders to cooperate with county and regional heads from the Interior Ministry to eradicate the drug menace within Garissa town.

He said Madrassa education provides young Muslims with a religious foundation in Quranic recitation and Islamic values.

The Institutions he said further help in equipping learners with knowledge to appreciate the differences that exist in society and improve human social morals.

“We appreciated the stewardship of the religious leaders at the two institutions for their relentless efforts to teach and shape the characters of the youngsters," he said.

"I believe that our religious leaders have a very big role to play in moulding our young ones and ensuring that we have a morally upright society."

He promised to organise a meeting next week that will bring together religious leaders and security committee heads from the regional and county levels to fast-track the crackdown against drug abuse.

He urged parents to take parental responsibility in the war against drugs.

The Defence CS also hailed Nacada for the crackdown against shisha in Nairobi that saw many arrested in December.

Garissa Township MP Dekow Mohamed said drug abuse continued to remain a challenge among the local youth.

“We will join efforts to rehabilitate those already involved in the drug abuse and also deal with the peddlers of the drugs with the help of the security officials," the MP said.

Two weeks ago DCI’s Anti-Narcotics and Operation Support Units seized bales of bhang after a truck ferrying them was intercepted along Garissa-Thika Road in the Kyanunda area of Mwingi.

The officers arrested two male suspects, the driver and co-driver.

The Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki who recently held a meeting for security managers from North Eastern in Wajir town called for a crackdown against drug traffickers whom he said were smuggling drugs from the neighboring Ethiopia.