Rift Valley has over 1m drug addicts, 400k need rehab – Nacada

The National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse has said there are over one million drug addicts in Rift Valley.

Speaking on Friday, Nacada chairman Stephen Mairori said more than 400,000 of the addicts are in need of rehabilitation services.

"In Rift Valley alone, over one million use alcohol and other forms of drugs. Out of these numbers, about 400,000 need rehabilitation. That’s a very large number," he said.

Mairori spoke during the launch of a Treatment and Rehabilitation Centre at the Koiwa Hospital in Bomet County.

The facility was opened by the Spouse of Deputy President Pastor Dorcas Rigathi.

Pastor Dorcas while opening the centre noted that a 22 per cent prevalence of drugs and substance abuse in Bomet County is worrying.

"I understand there is a 22 per cent prevalence of drugs in this county. That is very bad, and if we don’t do something Governor (Barchok) this county will have a big problem," she said.

The Office of the Spouse of the Deputy President in collaboration with other stakeholders has been conducting a screening exercise to identify those in need of rehabilitation services.

From the screening exercise, 37 men from Konoin expressed the desire to be rehabilitated while 56 from the Sotik area volunteered to join the behavioural change course.

In Chepalungu, 72 were identified while 41 were identified in Bomet East and Central.

More than 100 men have joined the rehabilitation programme as the first cohort that will be at the facility for three months receiving treatment and therapy.

Pastor Dorcas called on all counties to open their doors to such facilities as a way of safeguarding the future of the country.

She has been engaging county first ladies in such initiatives that she wants to spread across the country.

So far, she has launched a health village in Rumuruti Laikipia County and signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Nyeri to set up a facility in the Ngorano area.

Pastor Dorcas cautioned those involved in the business of selling killer brews in the country saying their days are numbered.

"I have heard some saying I will cause their businesses to shut down. Let them be shut and let people do other activities, this business of killing our children must end," she said.

Bomet Governor Hillary Barchok said his government will support the rehabilitation programme which he says is not just for the benefit of Bomet but the entire country.

The governor commended the initiative by Pastor Dorcas and lauded her for not condemning those in alcoholism, drugs and substance abuse but showing them love.