Kenya: Country Could Become a Transit for Drugs, Nacada Warns
By Lilian Museka
He speaks using an electro larynx, a medical device used to produce speech, to address people following the loss of his voice box.
Meet Mr. Robert Mwangi, a cancer survivor who now concentrates on educating the public on the dangers of alcohol and drug addictions.
Mwangi, now a counselor and consultant at the National Campaign Against Drug Abuse (Nacada) was diagnosed with throat cancer in 2003 following his addiction to tobacco smoking.
“I went through 33 sessions of radio therapy, spending close to Ksh. 2 million, but I still lost my voice box and now I have to use the gadget, which cost me Ksh. 100,000.” Says Mwangi
In a survey conducted by Nacada compiled in the 2012 report “rapid situation assessment of the status of drug and substance abuse in Kenya” it revealed that tobacco was the most addictive substance with more than 62 percent of users reporting craving for it.
The report also indicates that about one in 10 Kenyans are either abusers or depend on alcohol, four percent abuse tobacco, two percent abuse miraa while 0.2 percent abuse bhang.
“40.5 percent of respondents in urban areas are likely to be dependent on alcohol, 47.3 percent on tobacco, and 38.2 percent on miraa while 41.7 percent of respondents in the rural areas are likely to be dependent on bhang,” the report adds.
The report however shows a decline in the use of drug substance from 48.3 percent in 2007 37.1 percent in 2012.
While addressing media training, the chairman of Nacada Dr. Frank Njenga called on the need to enforce the law if the decline gains are to be felt.
Noting that Kenya’s economy was among the fastest growing in the region, he expressed fear that if the situation was not addressed, the country could become a transit for drugs leading to increased local consumption.
“A peaceful transition that will lead to attaining of vision 2030 is what we need and this is only possible if we have a sober nation,” he said adding that drug abuse provided a link to violence.
The government enacted a legal and institutional framework to control use of drugs. Nacada is now a state corporation established under The National Authority for the Campaign Agaisnt Alcohol and Drug Abuse Act, 2012 of the laws of Kenya.
The institution was mandated to facilitate, conduct, promote, and coordinate research on alcohol and drug abuse.
Some of the drugs abused in the country include tobacco, bhang, cocaine, miraa, heroine and alcohol.
Dr. Njenga regretted that some senior members of the society had changed the drug trade to a profit making at the expense of the lives of young people who were mostly affected.
He revealed that Nacada would carry on campaign and awareness on drug abuse days prior to election.
On the famous Muthutho law, the doctor regretted that despite the presence of the law on specific times to operate, most bar owners were disregarding it.
In his address, the Nacada Chief Executive Officer Dr. William Okedi called on the need for political will and partnership with various stakeholders. Nacada is also forging a partnership with some local universities and Kenya Institute of Education on a curriculum that will touch on drug abuse.
“During the next presidential debate slated for February 25th, we would like to request that alcohol and drug abuse is included as part of agenda for discussion as it has impact on agriculture and economy at large,” he said.
Dr. Okedi noted that the election period was very critical and therefore need for campaign and awareness against using drugs.
He also disclosed that each county had developed their own specific programmes to address alcohol and drug abuse with Ksh. 330 million having been released to that effect. This also follows the disbursement of Ksh. 100 million across the country to civil society organizations in this financial year.
Admitting that there was no legal framework on drugs such as miraa (it is considered as a cash crop in areas like Meru that wrecks in millions of shillings to the locals) and therefore making it hard to take people to court, Dr. Okedi called on the government to find an alternative cash crop for the locals.
“In our survey, it’s been proved that miraa has caused a lot of health problems and therefore the government needs to address the issues by finding alternative cash crops for the locals to earn their living,” he added.
Nacada legal officer Ms. Nyambura Kigeria said the 2012 amendment bill seeks to align the act with the constitution of Kenya.