Governor Jama rallies Garissa youth to ditch drugs and crime, embrace sports

Garissa Governor Nathif Jama kicks a football./STEPHEN ASTARIKO

Garissa Governor Nathif with Sheikh Stars players. They were crowned champions./STEPHEN ASTRIKO

Garissa Governor Nathif Jama addresses the youth when he presided over an award ceremony honouring the best performers of the 2024/25 FKF County League season./STEPHEN ASTARIKO

Garissa Governor Nathif Jama has urged young people in the county to turn their backs on drugs and crime, warning that these vices are the biggest barriers to a brighter future.

Speaking at an award ceremony for top performers in the 2024/25 FKF County League season, Jama called on youth to see themselves as the future of the nation and make the right choices now.

“Young people of Garissa, you are the future. Drugs and crime will only destroy your dreams,” he said. “Sports, on the other hand, build character, discipline, and community spirit,' he said.

Garissa has been grappling with a growing drug and substance abuse crisis in recent years.

Bhang, cocaine, and miraa top the list of commonly abused substances in the county, putting it on the National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse’s (NACADA) watchlist.

Even though alcohol is prohibited in the predominantly Muslim region, illicit brews and underground consumption remain a problem. Abuse of prescription drugs like diazepam and codeine is also on the rise.

Governor Jama lamented that these issues have fueled crime in the county.

“The link between drugs and crime is undeniable,” he said.

“But this is a problem we can solve together as a community.”

He emphasised that structured recreational activities, like football, offer a powerful alternative to drugs and crime.

“When you choose football over drugs, or education over crime, you’re not just scoring goals on the field; you’re scoring for your family, your community, and your future,” Jama told the audience.

To support this vision, the county has rolled out programs to tackle unemployment and help youth build better futures.

These include a revolving fund to help young entrepreneurs start small businesses, as well as significant investments in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) to equip youth with practical skills for self-reliance.

Governor Jama urged youth to embrace these opportunities: “TVET and sports are not just pastimes—they are real pathways to empowerment and growth.”

Last December, leaders from Garissa gathered for a leadership conference under the theme “Our Youth: Our Future,” seeking solutions to the challenges facing the county’s young people.

Governor Jama said the message remains clear: “If we stand together and give our youth the right tools and choices, we can build a stronger, safer, and more prosperous Garissa for everyone.”