On Tuesday Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu issued 5,000 certificates to reformed alcoholics who have successfully been rehabilitated under the county government 'Kaa Sober' programme.
Speaking at Ndumberi Stadium, Waititu said that the programme has proved to be a success adding that the county government had set aside Sh100 million to be shared among the 5,000 graduates where each will pocket Sh20,000.
"I am very pleased to say here today that this programme is so far 97 per cent successful. This is why we have 5,000 reformed alcoholics graduating today. And because we have decided that county money is not only meant to be 'eaten' by leaders only, we are giving them Sh100 million to go and start businesses," said Waititu.
To give the Devil his dues, Waititu must be lauded for his spirited efforts in the fight against alcoholism in the county.
In fact, critics say it is the only substantial thing he has been able to achieve so far since he was elected into office now close to two years ago.
However, issuance of cash to reformed drunkards is something that has been debated again and again among the county residents with many terming it 'unwise'. And indeed it is, by all means, unwise if not absurd for the following reasons.
1. The money is tempting
It is absurd for the governor to think that because these immediate former alcoholics have reformed, they can never slide back to alcoholism. It is possible and a catalyst for it is the money he is issuing them to go and start businesses. What businesses?
2. Majority have other priorities
While the governor may think that all of them will go and establish businesses, he forgets that some are parents whose absence during the rehabilitation exercise could have left their families suffering in silence.
Now that they have finished the rehabilitation programme and have been issued with money, is it their immediate family needs they will address first or it is businesses that some have no idea about that they will go for?
3. Setting a bad precedence
The best that the county government should do for these people is to take them through the whole rehabilitation programme considering that it is an expensive exercise that many can't afford. Period!
Going ahead to issue them with cash rewards as if they have just graduated with a Space Exploration course is not only wasteful, reckless but also setting bad precedence to other drunkards.
Or has the manufacture and sale of alcohol paused in Kiambu such that after all existing alcoholics have been rehabilitated in the county that will be the end of the story?
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