The County Government of Uasin Gishu has set up a task force meant to help find solutions to rising alcoholism.
Governor Jonathan Bii Chelilim says the task force has been mandated to find out the root cause of the challenge and recommend solutions.
Speaking recently during a graduation of alcoholic locals that had been rehabilitated, Chelilim said he was working on ensuring the county substantially reduces alcohol consumption.
“As a county we will not allow alcoholism that is destroying our youth, men and women. I have established the task force that will identify where the problem is and how to address it,” said the county boss.
Outreach
He further said his administration will be rollig out outreached to schools, markets and other public places to senziitze locals on the dangers of alcohol consumption.
“Whatever is in the market today is no longer alcohol but poison. This is the reason we are planning the outreach to tacke this menance destroying the future of our young generation,” added the governor.
Further, as a way of ending illicit brews especially in rural areas, the county boss said they are working on projects that will see families that depend on alcohol to earn a living get an alternative source of income.
During the graduation, several of those that had been alcoholics and were now rehabilitated narrated how alcoholism disrupted their bright education life.
Most of those under rehabilitation were university students.
“Alcohol had taken control of me for the last six years. Since 2016 to date. I am now rehabilitated and I have recovered in three layers – physically, mentally and spiritually. When I was an alcoholic, I would not make decisions but now my mental status is back,” said a Law student who had dropped out of Moi University.
“Because of alcoholism, I did not complete my degree. I was to graduate in 2017 but I never followed it up,” added another rehabilitated alcoholic.
For Collins Kimutai, a student at the University of Nairobi’s School of Architect and Engineering, Urban Planning, the period he had been in rehabilitation is the longest he has stayed sober.
“For the last six years, it has been three weeks that I was sober,” Kimutai said.
The Uasin Gishu County Alcoholic Drinks Control Board (ADCB) has been running a rehabilitation for the last three years which has seen 120 alcoholics rehabilitated.
