Kisii county commissioner, Godfrey Kegochi. [Photo/Victor Wanaswa]
Intensified crackdown on intoxicating substances abuse in Kisii County is a clear indication of the urgent need to address the abuse in the region.
Kisii county commissioner, Godfrey Kegochi has said arrests and prosecutions of intoxication substance abusers proved the local administration’s enforcement of the social vice’s intervention measures was effective.
The commissioner was speaking at Nyakoe during a seminar to sensitize 250 youths on the alcohol and intoxicating substances abuse by NACADA.
“The number of arrests of those abusing drugs in this county shows that actually the law enforcers are doing their work and more needs to be done to cube this menace.” Said the county commissioner.
Kegochi’s sentiments were echoed by NACADA Nyanza regional coordinator Esther Okenye who gave shocking revelations on the abuse’s rate in the region.
Okenye disclosed Nyanza region led in the country in bhang abuse and was third in alcohol consumption.
"The move had prompted the NACADA to pilot a prevention programme in Kisumu and Bungoma to tackle the problem," said Okenye.
On the current long holidays, the coordinator urged the community to provide effective responsible parenting to discourage their children from engaging in the vice.
Youth participants interviewed cited frustration, unemployment and peer influence as some of the major reasons driving some of them to abuse the intoxicating substances.