Deputy President (DP) Rigathi Gachagua wife Pastor Dorcas Rigathi has expressed concern over the rising incidents of student committing suicide linked to drug and alcohol abuse.
She issued a stern warning to students, cautioning them against engaging in such vices as it will eventually ruin their lives.
She said this in a mentorship session at Kisii School addressing drug and alcohol abuse.
Rigathi advised students to steer clear of the misuse of technology, highlighting its potential negative impact on their future.
She urged them to avoid bad company and seek out positive mentors to guide them towards success in education and life.
“If you want to succeed in life, you must focus on education,” she said.
Reflecting on her own experiences of success emerging from a challenging environment, Rigathi underscored the idea that one’s past does not determine their future.
She emphasized the correlation between personal effort and future outcomes, urging students to have faith in themselves and trust in God’s blessings.
Rigathi attributed the lack of male empowerment to societal expectations and peer pressure, which she said have led to men linking their masculinity to having multiple sexual partners, increasing their susceptibility to diseases like HIV and sexually transmitted infections.
She called for a social movement that will reclaim and revive the dignity of the boy child.
Accompanied by local Member of Parliament Zaheer Jhanda, Women Representative Dorice Donya, school principal Fred Mogaka, and school board chairperson Patrick Nyagosia, Rigathi shared stunning statistics, revealing that 58,000 inmates were serving jail terms due to substance abuse.
Kisii County Governor Simba Arati commended the initiative aimed at empowering the boy child, emphasizing the importance of collaboration between the county and national governments.
He asserted that they are committed to formulating laws that will safeguard the rights and well-being of the boy child, ensuring that these laws are designed to support and uplift them rather than undermine their interests.
Echoing Rigathi’s sentiments, Donya emphasized the importance of avoiding destructive behaviours, specifically cautioning against engaging in premarital sex.
Donya reminded students of the sacrifices made by their parents to provide education, urging them not to burden their families further by contributing to the challenges faced by the girl child through unintended pregnancies.
The boy child programme seeks to help youth out of drug and substance abuse, alcoholism and mental health, among other challenges.
By Elizabeth Angira
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