Iten: Parents have been urged to protect children against early exposure to drugs as one way of protecting them against engaging in drug and substance abuse. Speaking on behalf of the Elgeyo Marakwet county commissioner during the launch of the national Substance Use Prevention week in Iten, deputy county commissioner Herbert Kombo emphasized that children who grow up surrounded by parents who abuse drugs are more likely to become abusers in the future.
According to Kenya News Agency, the DCC declared war against brewers and drug peddlers, highlighting the necessity of a concerted effort from parents, teachers, and society at large for the war against drugs to succeed. He outlined plans to extend sensitization efforts across the whole county, focusing especially on schools and other learning institutions to reach as many youths as possible.
The county coordinator Nacada Joan Chebon appealed to parents to create a safe home environment where children feel free to talk about their challenges and can be rescue
d early if they are involved with drugs. She noted that some parents are too strict, preventing their children from opening up about their problems.
During the same occasion, CEC public service Edwin Seroney discouraged parents and elder siblings from sending young children to buy cigarettes and called on shopkeepers to refrain from selling cigarettes to children. County secretary Lazarus Chebii, noting the influx of foreigners in Iten for athletic training, urged the national government to monitor these individuals, as some engage in illegal activities like supplying drugs to athletes, tarnishing their reputation.
Keiyo North DCC Michael Odulwo mentioned that the department of interior, immigration, training camps, and accommodation providers would collaborate to find a way to monitor foreigners. Pastor Steven Mwei, a rehabilitated addict, shared his story of addiction stemming from a single sip of traditional brew, while 26-year-old Titus Kiprop recounted his 12-year struggle with addiction before rehabil
itation. Both warned the youth against experimenting with alcohol, emphasizing that just one sip can lead to addiction.
Odulwo also encouraged residents to take advantage of the ongoing RRI on registration, noting that the government was issuing national identity cards, birth, and death certificates free of charge. He urged everyone to ensure they obtain IDs before the rollout of mass voter registration.
