Residents of Isiolo have been urged to embrace collective responsibility in efforts to curb drug and substance abuse in the region.
Speaking at Isiolo Boys High School during a week-long football tournament organised by the National Campaign Against Drug Abuse (Nacada) and the office of Woman Rep Mumina Bonaya, leaders said that the war on drug and substance abuse will only be won through collaboration between the public, administrators, police and the Judiciary.
Bonaya noted that Kenya has laws to address drug abuse but the problem lies in the implementation of the same.
She urged youth to engage in constructive activities such as sports to avoid being lured into drug and substance abuse, especially during the holiday seasons.
Isiolo County Nacada Coordinator Alice Mwangi said the football tournament was one of the measures that the authority was using to sensitise youths on the dangers of drug abuse.
Mwangi announced that Nacada was working closely with the Isiola county government to establish an outpatient unit to help drug addicts at the County Referral Hospital.
She noted that the drugs commonly abused in the area include tobacco, bhang, alcohol and miraa.
Nacada also offered counselling sessions for youths during the tournament.
Isiolo Sub County DCC Christopher Siele said that in a bid to enforce the laws against drug and substance abuse, National Government Administration Officers and the police have been directed to conduct operations in their respective areas and ensure prosecution of suspects.
Siele explained that Isiolo town being a transport corridor linked to Ethiopia and Somalia, is prone to intrusion by drug traffickers, hence the need for stakeholders to embrace teamwork to combat the menace.
Omar Godana, an elder said that unless the Judiciary hands out heavy sentences to offenders, the fight against drug and substance abuse will be in vain.
Godana lamented that notorious drug traffickers are often released after being arrested and arraigned, a situation that emboldens them to continue with the illegal trade.
The tournament involved eight teams from Wabera, Bulapesa, Ngaremara and Burat wards, the four wards that make up Isiolo Municipality, with each ward providing two teams. Grevy’s Zebra from Ngaremara ward emerged winners, beating Bilbao FC from Bulapesa ward in post-match penalties following a barren draw in regular time.
The winner bagged a Sh100,000 cash prize and a trophy.
Youths who took part in the tournament appealed to stakeholders to organise similar events regularly to enable youths to exploit their talents.
