Illicit brewing and drug abuse remain deeply entrenched in Central Kenya, leaving thousands of youths ensnared in this vice and disrupting learning to some extent, stakeholders have warned.
Despite numerous campaigns by both national and local governments to combat this issue, solutions have only been temporary. Stakeholders assert that a concerted effort is needed to eradicate killer brews entirely.
Led by Paul Waithera, also known as MC Wamuting’oe of the Happy Family Local Association—a group dedicated to aiding addiction recovery—stakeholders emphasize the urgent need to save many alcohol addicts, particularly young men, in the region.
Wamuting’oe lamented that heavy consumption of illicit brews such as chang’aa and second-generation liquor has rendered many young men unproductive.
While speaking at Makwa village in Gatundu North, during a session with recovering addicts, Wamuting’oe, who is himself a rehabilitated addict, expressed concerns over local leaders’ failure to address this issue and support campaigns aimed at combating these significant threats to future generations.
“We thank former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua for his efforts in combating this scourge of alcoholism. Other leaders should follow his example and join the fight to save the youths being wiped out by these cheap brews and drugs,” he added. Elizabeth Wambere, a psychologist, noted that many young men in the region are either unmarried or have abandoned their families due to excessive alcohol consumption.
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They turn to alcohol and drugs for solace. We must address these issues for the sake of our future,” Wambere urged. Wambere called on the government to intensify efforts to combat the problem at its source, including targeting those who trade in raw materials used to produce illicit brews.
She also urged county governments to regulate the licensing of liquor vendors to eliminate those selling dangerous brews. Residents, led by Njeri Wanyoike, expressed concern that illicit brews, particularly chang’aa, have claimed countless innocent lives, caused family breakups, and shattered the dreams of many youths.
Recovering addicts, including Paul Gathogo and Francis Kamau, attributed unemployment, poverty, and family rejection as the main reasons driving them to alcoholism. Kamau, a father of two, shared that his wife and children left him due to excessive drinking, and his family cut ties with him.
“I only find peace when I’m drunk. I had a family, but it fell apart because of drinking,” he noted. They also refuted claims by local authorities that illicit brews in the area, particularly in Makwa village, have been eradicated, insisting that some traders still sell the cheap liquor.
“The brews have slightly reduced, which is why we are urging the government to intensify their efforts to end this outlawed liquor,” said Veronica Wakonyo, a rehabilitated alcoholic and former chang’aa trader.
By Kamau Njoroge
