Nominated MCA Jane Karimi has urged the government to launch an explicit crackdown on traffickers of bhang and illicit third rate alcohol that is readily accessible to students in various parts of Mbeere South, Embu County.
Speaking during a thanksgiving ceremony at St Chrysostom Kiamuringa ACK Church, the MCA said there is an alarming rise in the cases of addiction among learners in various schools.
She lamented that unless the government mobilizes stakeholders from all sectors to fight the menace, the lives of an entire generation will be destroyed.
“The government should hasten its plans to put up new police posts across various parts of Mbeere South, particularly at Kiamuringa area where youth involvement in bhang trafficking, peddling and smoking had reached lamentable and cruel levels,” she stated.
She added: “Trafficking of narcotic drugs, their widespread availability and sale of illicit alcohol should be fought by all stakeholders because students are becoming the worst victims,”
Karimi expressed concern that a number of bars had been licensed to operate close to schools hence affecting learning and enabling easy access to alcohol and drugs by the youth.
She said the Kiamuringa community was united in demanding for the closure of wines and spirits outlets licensed to operate close to residential areas, churches and schools.
“Due to high consumption of drugs by the youth, majority of them are dropping out of school due to addiction, early pregnancies and marriages as well as truancy,” she said.
She lamented that most KCPE and KCSE graduates who had qualified to join Technical and Vocational Colleges refused to enroll in the institutions despite government sponsorships due to addiction to bhang and alcohol.
She expressed hope that with support from the residents, the government would succeed in eradicating alcohol and drug abuse among the youth.
A cross section of female MCAs at the event supported their colleague’s sentiments.
By Robert Nyagah
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