Leaders in Uasin Gishu and anti-drug abuse campaigners across the country have expressed immense grief following the death of County Director of the Alcoholic Drinks Control Board Armstrong Rono.
Rono, who was appointed to be the director of the board tasked with regulation of alcoholic drinks sale, curbing drug abuse and rehabilitation of addicts succumbed to a short illness on Friday morning at an Eldoret Hospital.
The director began complaining of a severe headache last Saturday when he was attending a bench-marking event where he had hosted his counterparts from Nandi County, his canceled his plans to brief the press and excused himself to seek medication.
Governor Jackson Mandago who struggled to come to terms with the sad news said the county had lost a real champion that had committed his life to safeguard the young people against the negative effects of alcohol and drug abuse.
“His leadership should have lasted longer because he had already attained massive milestones in sanitizing the alcoholic drinks trade sector and protecting the youth from indulgence. He did his work with utter commitment and nobody could stop him from achieving desired goals, it is sad that he has left us,” said Mandago.
Deputy Governor Daniel Chemno said Rono was a man of action and less talk, emphasizing that the massive achievements he made within the short time he served speaks of his passion to eradicate drug abuse and transform lives.
“He was a man of sheer passion and needed no supervision to implement the law and pursue all round objectives. He a great crusader against drug abuse who did not bow to threats or bribes, better lives for the youth and a sober society was his drive,” Chemno said.
National Authority for Campaign against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (Nacada) CEO Dr. William Okedi said they had lost a dedicated advocate that had immensely helped achieve goals towards eradication of drug abuse.
Rono was an official of the Association of Kenya Addiction Counselors and a consultant with Nacada
Immediately after his appointment, Rono called for revocation of all licenses of alcoholic drinks outlets and clubs were and conducted a fresh audit before issuing licenses to only compliant traders.
Before his demise, Rono preliminary stated that he had engaged the executive to work on bylaws that would change minimum drinking age from 18 to 21 years in a bid to limit teenagers from early indulgence.