NATION MEDIA GROUP, By BENJAMIN MUINDI and PPS, June 10 2013
President Uhuru Kenyatta on Monday directed the police to boost fight against drug trafficking by arresting perpetrators and deporting foreigners involved in the illegal activities.
President Kenyatta also said that the the National Authority for Campaign against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (Nacada) should formulate concrete measures to roll back issues of drug abuse.
Speaking while opening the the 2nd National Conference on Alcohol and Drug Abuse, Mr Kenyatta also challenged parents to consistently be involved in the day-to-day lives of their children.
"There's need to educate the youth on drug abuse," he said.
"I call upon learning institutions, faith based organisations and the civil society to scale up the fight against alcohol and drug abuse," added President Kenyatta.
Mr Kenyatta also noted that parental negligence was a key factor to increase of drug-related cases as well as socio-economic and peer pressure.
President Kenyatta emphasised that the war on illicit drugs is a collective affair that requires the active participation of all.
“Indeed, looking at our society, it is clear that the use of alcohol and other substances is a deeply rooted practice that would take more than Nacada to control,” he said.
Mr Kenyatta directed the National Police Service to tighten law enforcement measures to deal with cross-border illicit drug trafficking.
He said the law on access to alcohol should also strictly be enforced to stamp out illicit brews in towns and villages, and deal firmly with those encouraging underage drinking.
President Kenyatta at the same time, called on county governments to play a frontline role in the control of alcohol and drugs as set out in the Constitution.
“County governments should enhance collaboration with Nacada so as to reach out to communities more effectively,” he said.
President Kenyatta also appealed to the leaders, both in Government and in the community, to take seriously the responsibility of ensuring that the country’s young people are not exposed to drugs.
He urged the National Treasury to allocate more resources for prevention and control of alcohol and drug abuse, and to seek innovative ways of securing bilateral funding that would increase Nacada's resource base in order to scale up the campaign against substance abuse in the country.
“Moreover, drug abuse-related ailments and complications are an additional burden to the Government which must be avoided at all costs,” he said.
Since drug abuse and related disease burden is a drain to the health budget, President Kenyatta urged the Ministry of Health and development partners to assist in the provision of addiction treatment, rehabilitation and preventive services.
He said the intervention regime should factor, among other key issues, the strengthening of enforcement policies and laws on alcohol and drug abuse control and access to illicit drugs among the youth.
President Kenyatta said the capacity to rehabilitate those who need help out of the bondage of alcohol and drug abuse should also be scaled up for the goals of the country’s development blueprint, Vision 2030, to be attained.
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