State sets aside Sh90m for drug abuse victims

The Government has set aside Sh90 million to put up rehabilitation centers for people affected by drug abuse in 10 counties across the country.

Among the counties to benefit are Nyandarua, Kiambu and Embu in Central region, which have recorded a high number of deaths due to alcohol abuse.

The National Campaign against Drug Abuse Authority (Nacada) has said there are elaborate plans to rehabilitate 2.2 million drug-dependent Kenyans in less than two years for free. Nacada Chairman John Mututho said the Government has set aside the money to kick off the programme and added that the kitty will be enhanced in due course.
"The programme will see the multitude, which constitutes 5.5 per cent of Kenyan population, free from the yoke of drugs and alcohol slavery," he said.

Speaking in Olkalou town in Nyandarua County, Mututho said although President Uhuru Kenyatta had instructed him to solve the problem within two years, his team was working hard to ensure the target is reached in one year. "We want to eradicate this vice once and for all so that our country can move forward. I can assure you the centres will play a key role in rehabilitating our people," said Mututho,

The Nacada boss was addressing the Press at Nyandarua Governor Daniel Waithaka's office yesterday before visiting a site at Ndemi area in the county, where a rehabilitation centre will be set up.
Mututho also added his authority was working closely with the National Transport and Safety Authority to wipe out drunkard drivers from the Kenyan roads, saying a large number of accidents have been attributed to drugs and alcohol.

He said one of the steps will be to purchase 105 super breatherlisers and 53 more special ones that will be detecting as many as 16 types of drugs besides alcohol.