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Kwale youth urged to shun drugs, embrace talent

Some of the 435 rolls of bhang that NACADA officials seized in a crackdown in Mtwapa, Kilifi County, on February 10, 2024. (Photo: X/ NACADA Kenya)

By Mishi Gongo | 10 Mar 2024

According to the police chief, petty theft is common among drug users who need quick cash to feed their addictions.

Kwale youth have been urged to avoid drug usage and instead focus on developing their talents to earn a living.

In an interview with The Eastleigh Voice on Sunday, Msambweni OCPD Francis Gachoki said drugs have contributed to the insecurity cases in the region.

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He stated that the most often used drugs in the area are Mogokaa, bhang, and shisha.

"We have had cases of youth and even minors engaging in knife fights at weddings and football matches, and every time we investigate we realise that they are under the influence of drugs," he said.

He called on parents to be keen on their children's whereabouts especially now that the schools are about to be closed for the April holidays.

According to the police chief, petty theft is common among drug users who need quick cash to feed their addictions.

"They are the ones that snatch handbags and mug tourists. I'm telling parents to take care of their children, you only see the parents getting concerned after we have arrested their kids. Please stop this habit of bailing them out every time they are arrested," he said.

He encouraged parents to create activities that will make their children busy.

"Let us train our children who are the future leaders to be productive. You can make them participate in farming, or enrol them to learn swimming or play football rather than staying idle in the local dwellings.

The national survey by the National Campaign against Drugs Agency (NACADA) found that one in six Kenyans aged between 15 and 65 or 4.73 million people, are currently using at least one drug or substance of abuse.

Out of this number, males in the same age group accounted for 3.78 million compared to their female counterparts at 949,298.

The survey involved 3,314 respondents from the 47 counties, with an individual response rate of 87 per cent.

The survey also found that the use of cannabis (bhang) has increased significantly, with the number of people using the drug increasing by 90 per cent in the last five years.

Currently, one in every 53 Kenyans aged 15 to 65 uses cannabis.

Nairobi leads the region in bhang use with a prevalence rate of 6.3 per cent followed by Nyanza with 2.4 per cent and Coast with 1.9 per cent.

The western region had the highest prevalence of current alcohol use at 23.8 per cent followed by Coast at 13.9 per cent.

The report titled 'Status of drugs and substance abuse (DSU) in Kenya, 2022' revealed that while the average age of initiation for Tobacco, alcohol, khat, cannabis, prescription drugs, cocaine and heroin was 16-20 the minimum age of initiation for tobacco was (six), alcohol (seven), cannabis (eight), khat (nine), prescription drugs (eight), heroine (18) and cocaine (20).