Elgeyo Marakwet County Secretary Paul Chemmuttut on Wednesday hosted a high-level delegation from National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA).
The delegation was led by NACADA chairman Reverend Stephen Mairori.
The team, which also included Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Victor Okioma and Board Member Elijah Lagat, commended Elgeyo Marakwet County for being a leader in the fight against alcoholism.
“You used to be among the highest in alcohol abuse prevalence but your concerted efforts now make you a leader worth emulating by other counties,” said Rev. Mairori.
The NACADA chairman said the efforts had made the agency fund the establishment of a rehabilitation centre in Iten worth Ksh9.8 million.
“We are happy you have already operationalized the centre and you are helping those willing to abandon the vice. We will continue supporting you,” said Rev. Mairori.
Chemmuttut on his part hailed the collaboration between the County and NACADA and other partners like Empowering Lives International (ELI) saying it had helped drastically bring down cases of alcoholism in the County.
“Out of this collaboration many of our residents are now coming out to willingly request to be rehabilitated so that they can be useful to society,” he said.
Rehabilitation
The County Secretary further reiterated the commitment of Governor Wisley Rotich to the continued rehabilitation of alcohol and drug abuse in the County.
“As you may be aware the Governor has initiated a lot of economic empowerment programs that seek to give opportunities to locals, to avoid people losing hope and resorting to alcoholism,” said the CS.
Also present was County Executive Committee Member Monicah Rotich who requested NACADA for support in expanding the rehabilitation centre.
“As we speak we have male and female patients sharing one wing. If we can separate them, it would be ideal,” he said.
The CEO said NACADA would consider the request and asked the County to ring-fence funds raised during licensing of bars and plough them back to rehabilitation efforts and sensitisation against the harmful effects of alcohol and drug abuse.
Further, Elgeyo Marakwet County Commissioner John Korir pledged the national government’s support in collaboration to end the vice.
“We have been working very well here in an all-government approach to this vice and we will continue that way until this County is declared alcohol and drug-free. We are that committed,” he said.
The delegation also visited the rehabilitation centre to check on its operations.
