Dorcas Gachagua wants women rop*d in w*r against a********m

Dorcas Rigathi, the wife of Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua says the war on alcoholism and drug abuse cannot succeed without involvement of women.

She said women being mothers have a special place in society and their input in the campaign to save thousands of young people from ruin by addiction to those substances is critical.

“Women are compassionate and they care. Should women come out in numbers and say no to the menace that has been killing our brothers and sisters, we shall easily win this war,” she stated.

Mrs Rigathi spoke during the launch of Rose Kirika Foundation, an initiative of the Kiambu Deputy Governor Rosemary Kirika, at the MPesa Academy in Thika. The foundation is meant to empower and support families against alcoholism and drug abuse in the county and beyond.

At the same time, the DP’s spouse who is spearheading the drive against consumption of illicit alcohol in the country said hundreds of youths are being supported through rehabilitation programs and financial capital to start their businesses.

She hailed Mrs Kirika for coming up with the initiative which she said goes a long way towards reforming thousands of young people in Kiambu County and assisting affected families.

“We are in this war until the end. We have continually received support and now foundations like Rose Kirika’s will only strengthen our efforts to save our families from the dangers of abusing drugs,” she said.

Mrs Kirika on her part said she was jostled into taking action after realizing that a large number of those who attend political meetings are usually intoxicated and in a state of despair.

The foundation, she said, will endeavor to strengthen family units and develop robust communities besides offering economic and social empowerment to those affected by alcoholism.

“We want to break the cycle of alcoholism and substance abuse through economic and social empowerment. From psychosocial training to economic support initiatives like beekeeping and SME development, we are committed to creating a positive and lasting impact,” said Kirika.

An official of the National Campaign against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (Nacada) identified as Wilfred said statistics show that at least 4.1 per cent of men in Nairobi and Central Kenya are addicted to alcohol.

“We have observed that about one in every six Kenyans is using one drug or another. The most affected are males as one out of three males are using one drug or another. For females, one in every 16 others is using one drug or another,” he said.

Similar sentiments on the need to tackle alcoholism menace in the country were shared by deputy governors from various counties including Laikipia, Murang’a, Nairobi, Taita Taveta among others.

Led by Philemonah Binea Kapkory, the deputy governor for Trans Zoia County, the DG’s regretted that an entire generation could be wiped out unless all stakeholders join hands to fight the epidemic.

Illegal brewers have traditionally used riverbanks to make chang’aa due to easy access to water and in most places, it is hard for the authorities to reach the brewing dens.