Kwale county: Mijikenda community leaders have urged the government to sustain and intensify the fight against drug and alcohol abuse, warning that the rising wave of juvenile gangs at the Coast is fueled by substance addiction among young people. Speaking in Kwale County, the Mijikenda leaders attributed the mushrooming of machete-wielding gangs to drug and substance abuse, urging the government to declare an all-out war on drug barons, who they say are destroying the lives of youth, who end up engaging in criminal activities due to addiction.
According to Kenya News Agency, Mijikenda spokesperson and former minister Amb. Ali Chirau Mwakwere said their analysis shows that most machete-wielding miscreants are boys aged between 13 and 14 years from the community. He cited the widespread consumption of muguka, a variant of khat retailing at as little as Sh50, as a major contributor to the surge in crime, saying many youths have become addicted to it.
Amb. Mwakwere emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating, ‘Ask Kwale residents and primary schools along the highway where muguka is sold during break time. Learners buy Sh50 packets to chew from Msambweni, Kombani and other areas. They are addicted. They must have Sh50 to buy muguka, and when they miss it, they are ready to take machetes and rob.’
The sentiments were echoed by former Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) chairman Mudzo Nzili, who called on the government to tighten the noose to curb the entry of hard drugs such as cocaine and heroin. He also called for the arrest of drug barons accused of destroying the lives of young people in the community, expressing confidence in the government’s commitment to addressing the issue.
Mijikenda youth leader Adnan Juma noted the significant impact of drug use on youth crime, urging the government to sustain the anti-drug campaign in the region. ‘Drugs have significantly contributed to machete-wielding crime,’ he said, calling for concerted efforts to save youth who are losing their productive years to substance abuse.
On her part, Mariam Bindo urged police to address societal gaps contributing to the surge in crime before resorting to stringent measures. She alleged that some youths are pushed into criminal activities at a tender age due to drug abuse.
The appeal comes as the government declares alcohol and drug abuse a national development and security emergency, rolling out a coordinated, whole-of-government response to curb the production, distribution, and consumption of illicit substances, including bootleg liquor. This initiative follows a recent presidential proclamation on alcohol and drug control, which emphasizes enhanced enforcement, prevention, rehabilitation, and asset recovery through inter-agency collaboration.
To strengthen the fight, the Anti-Narcotics Unit within the Directorate of Criminal Investigations will be enhanced with operational capacity similar to that of the Anti-Terrorism Police Unit. The Assets Recovery Agency has also been tasked with tracing, seizing, and forfeiting to the State assets used in or acquired through the narcotics and illicit alcohol trade.
