Persons serving non-custodial sentences in Kiambu County have been urged to desist from drug and alcohol abuse while serving their out-of-jail sentences.
Speaking during a probationers open day held at Africa Gospel Church in Kiambu Town, National Authority for Campaign against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (Nacada) Trainer of Trainers (TOT) William Rotich revealed that a bulk of crimes stemmed from drug and alcohol abuse.
“I am aware that a majority of law-breaking committed by those serving out of jail sentences are a result of engaging in drug and alcohol abuse and this results in many of them committing big crimes that see them finally go to jail,” said Rotich.
He urged the probationers to engage in meaningful ways of earning a living after they completed their non-custodial sentences as a measure to seek their communities’ approval and respect.
“There is no way you will gain meaningful development in your lives if you do not resolve to change your vices,” added Rotich.
Rotich advised church leaders to work in partnership with their communities in the fight against drug and alcohol abuse since they acted as opinion makers for the community and their contributions impacted positively on the growth of its members.
The probationers open day is an initiative of the Kiambu probation office where probationers are presented with an opportunity to interact with their probation officers.
The open day is held on a quarterly basis and is designed at facilitating the rehabilitation of the probationers who are from the four constituencies notably Kiambu Constituency, Kiambaa East Constituency, Ruiru Constituency and Githunguri Constituency
A total of 117 probationers that are currently serving out of jail sentences in various areas in the six constituencies within the county were in attendance.