Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has said President William Ruto will fully support resolutions reached during Monday’s Coast Region Alcohol and Drug Abuse Conference.
In a statement at the close of the conference, the DP said the President is committed to sustainably eradicating all forms of narcotics and illegal alcohol not only at the Coast but also across the country.
“President William Ruto is committed to supporting the short-term, midterm, and long-term outcomes of this meeting because the actions were also informed by the input of the leaders. It is our responsibility to act and the right thing to do,” he said.
The meeting brought together elected leaders, members of the Cabinet, top security and national government officers, and representatives of State agencies among other leaders.
The DP said discussions at the forum were candid.
“We have made a bold decision to sort out this menace, together, once and for all, to save generations from extinction. We must dignify our people,” he said.
Cabinet Secretaries Kithure Kindiki (Interior), Susan Nakhumicha (Health), Ezekiel Machogu (Education), Aisha Jumwa (Gender and Culture) Salim Mvurya (Mining), Senate Speaker Amason Kingi were among the leaders present.
They were accompanied by Principal Secretaries Raymond Omollo (Internal Security), Mary Muthoni (Public Health), Mohammed Daghar (Transport), Terry Mbaika (Devolution), and Inspector General of Police Japheth Koome.
Governors Fatuma Achani (Kwale), Andrew Mwadime (Taita Taveta) Raphael Munyua (Deputy Governor Lamu), and Francis Thoya (Deputy Governor, Mombasa) were also present.
Senators Danson Mungatana (Tana River), Miraj Abdillah (Nominated), and MPs Mohammed Ali (Nyali) Rashid Bedzimba (Kisauni), Ruweida Obo (Lamu East) Stanley Muthama- (Lamu West), Feisal Bader (Msambweni), Danson Mwashako (Wundanyi), John Bwire (Taveta), Peter Shake (Mwatate), Abdi Chome (Voi), Hon Lydia Haika (Woman Rep Taita Taveta), Muthoni Marubu (Woman Rep Lamu) and a host of MCAs also attended the meeting.
Gachagua, however, took issue with a number of Coast MPs for snubbing the meeting despite drug abuse being a serious problem in the larger Coastal region.
The DP expressed concern that leaders in the region save for the Nyali MP appear to have taken a back seat in the fight against illicit brew and drugs.
“There is a serious crisis in Mombasa and the leadership is quiet. At least I can attest that Nyali MP Mohamed Ali has been vocal about the issue…But other leaders are quiet,” he said.
CS Nakhumicha said the Ministry of Health has declared its unwavering commitment to addressing the problem whose resultant ripple effect is increased demand for HIV/Aids management which took up Sh75 billion last year.
“Drug and alcohol abuse not only strains our healthcare system but also results in severe societal consequences. From teenage pregnancy to s.e.xual and gender-based violations and the spread of HIV/AIDS, the repercussions are devastating,” the CS said.
To combat the drug abuse crisis, CS Nakhumicha urged law enforcement officers to collaborate closely with the Pharmacy and Poisons Board to ensure pharmaceutical premises non-compliant with regulations remain closed.
She added that community health promoters will be mobilized to identify individuals struggling with substance abuse and provided with necessary interventions.
