Published on 2018-11-21 14:00:30, Nacada has warned that alcoholism in Central Kenya is worsening, with hundreds of young people said to be trapped in the vice.
Chairman Lt Colonel (Retired) Julius Githiri said the Mt Kenya region has more liquor outlets than learning institutions, a situation he linked to the spread of alcohol abuse among the youth.
He made the remarks in Kongu ini village, Murang’a, during an inspection of rehabilitation centres. Githiri said the country must act early to protect the next generation from the effects of addiction.
“This an area with more liquor outlets, and we call upon county governments that have licensing powers to reduce number, in efforts to reduce level of alcoholism,” he said.
According to Nacada, Mt Kenya has 5,642 bars. Murang’a leads the region with 1,867 licensed bars, followed by Nyeri with 1,778, while Isiolo has 65.
Githiri also said the region has too few young people involved in sport, describing Mt Kenya as a “laughing stock” and calling for the creation of talent centres.
On rehabilitation, he said Nacada would help facilitate treatment for former KDF soldier Kenneth Gachie Mwangi, who was dismissed from the military eight years ago over excessive alcoholism. Mwangi is from Kagicha village in Nyeri.
“Nacada gets requests from people in need to be assisted to undergo rehabilitation, and many have successful stories to tell their journey through and after alcoholism among other addictions,” he said.
Githiri further accused county governments of failing to set up rehabilitation programmes despite collecting billions of shillings through liquor licensing fees. He said that money was meant to support rehabilitation, but counties had not channelled it into programmes for addicts.
