This archive report was first published on 26 January 2022.
January 26, 2022, marked a pressing concern in Kenya: the high cost of rehabilitation services is hindering the fight against alcoholism and drug abuse.
According to Sergeant Moses Kimenchu, a counselor and director of the Sergeant Savior Mentorship, Counseling and Empowerment Centre, a three-month rehabilitation period can cost over Ksh 300,000, a sum many affected individuals find difficult to afford.
Kimenchu lamented the scarcity of public rehabilitation centers in Kenya, with only three available, which is insufficient to support those struggling with addiction.
He suggested that the government, in partnership with other stakeholders, establish more rehabilitation centers and provide cheaper services, as private centers often charge exorbitant prices for treatment and rehabilitation.
Kimenchu emphasized the need to sensitize young people, particularly in central Kenya, where a 2015 NACADA research found that 16 percent of teenagers between 12 and 25 years had tasted alcoholic drinks.
He noted that school-going children are also exposed to alcoholism and drug abuse, highlighting the importance of sensitization and education programs to prevent young people from indulging in these vices.
Kimenchu's center, which started two years ago, has handled 198 people, with 40 fully recovering from addiction. He is partnering with the Murang'a county government to provide counseling and mentorship services to those who have been treated at the local Level 5 hospital.
Alcoholism has been identified as a major social challenge in the Central region, with the production and sale of cheap and substandard liquor being blamed for the problem.
A multiagency team was formed in every county within the region to combat the sale of counterfeit alcoholic drinks, a move supported by the Murang'a Bar Owners association.
Kimenchu suggested that security agencies focus on eliminating the manufacture of illicit and counterfeit brews, which significantly contributes to addiction.
