A group of youth from Kikuyu Sub-County today hosted a youth empowerment program at the University of Nairobi in an effort to address drug abuse and prostitution among the young people.
Addressing the youths at the University, Mr. Sam Kiarie, a motivational speaker said the youth in Kiambu have often fallen prey of drug addiction and prostitution.
“We therefore hope this session will implement change in their lives at the end of it all,” he added.
Mr. Sam Kiarie mentioned some of the factors leading to these behavior included idleness, lack of parental guidance, peer pressure and unemployment.
“We need urgent measures to protect ourselves as youths from being consumed by drugs and prostitution. This way, we will avoid losing the youthful population in areas within Kikuyu Sub County,” Kiarie emphasized.
According to Martin Wangura a participant at the forum said the session was a life changing one.
“I have been a victim of drug abuse merely out of ignorance, but with the knowledge gained out of this program, I am going to do away with drugs and reconstruct my life to something more useful,” said the 19 year old.
Mercy Wambui, a class six drop out said that she happened to attend the session through an invitation from a friend.
“When my friend invited me over, I was hesitant at first. Little did I know that it would be such a powerful session. I have therefore resolved to go back to school and shun prostitution I used to engage into to earn a living,” said Wambui.
In his final remarks the chairman of the young innovators youth group in the campus said that they are targetting up to 500 youths in the sub-county and make them responsible members of the society by offering mentorship programs more often.