Nyeri: Governor Mutahi Kahiga has raised an alarm over the widespread consumption of illicit brews in Central Kenya, describing it as a severe threat to future generations. Kahiga urged local residents to support the government’s efforts to combat this escalating issue, which he said is predominantly affecting men in the region.
According to Kenya News Agency, an alarming 635,000 people in the area are addicted to alcoholism and drugs. This figure is nearly equivalent to the population of Nyeri County, which stands at 700,000. Governor Kahiga shared these concerns during the opening ceremony of the Ihururu Rehabilitation and Treatment Centre in Tetu, presided over by Her Excellence Dorcas Rigathi.
Kahiga highlighted the gravity of the situation, noting that 99 percent of those addicted to illicit brews and drugs were male. He recalled the critical state of the community before the government initiated a major crackdown on illicit brews, which had led many men to become incapacitated by excessive drinking.
While commending the government’s role in operationalizing the Ihururu Rehabilitation and Treatment Centre, Kahiga committed to providing full support to the facility. He advocated for the creation of three additional facilities within the Central Region, aiming to make treatment more accessible to people in nearby counties.
Kahiga also announced plans to expedite the deployment of medical staff to the Ihururu facility, which is classified as a Level Four hospital and the first public institution of its kind in the Central and Rift Valley regions. He outlined a vision for the facility to be a fully-fledged Level 4 hospital with comprehensive staffing. Moreover, he called for the establishment of similar centers in Kiambu, Murang’a, and either in Meru, Embu, or Tharaka Nithi to cater to three counties each.
The Ihururu Rehabilitation and Treatment Centre, a 90-bed facility, began admitting patients in September this year following an assessment by NACADA. It is the sole public facility in the county offering treatment for drug and alcohol addiction and currently has 14 patients.
A NACADA report released in mid-May this year identified alcohol as the most abused drug in Kenya, affecting over 3 million people, followed by tobacco and khat. The Western region led in the use of chang’aa, followed by Nyanza and Rift Valley. The Central Region had the highest prevalence of portable spirits, followed by the Coast and Rift Valley.
The report also revealed that illicit brewing, including chang’aa, had risen, along with an increase in the number of bars, particularly in the Central region, Nairobi, and Eastern. In response to these findings, Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua announced in April his commitment to leading the fight against illicit brews and drugs, especially in the Central region, which has the highest level of illicit alcohol consumption.