Trans Nzoia Leaders Sound Alarm on Rising Drug Abuse Crisis Threatening Youth Future

 

 

 Trans Nzoia Deputy Governor Philomena Kapkory has issued a stark warning to the county’s youth, urging them to shun drug and substance abuse, which she says is rapidly becoming a national crisis undermining Kenya’s future leaders.

Speaking at St Marks Boys High School during Mashujaa Day celebrations, Mrs. Kapkory called on students to stay focused on their education and avoid destructive habits that could derail their futures.

“Please students, don’t destroy your future by involving yourselves in drugs and substance abuse. It has ruined the lives of many bright youths in this country, and we must fight against it,”
she pleaded.

The Deputy Governor stressed that addiction does not only ruin health but also severely limits opportunities in life, especially employment, warning that even qualified youths struggle to secure jobs due to addiction.

“No employer wants to take such a risk,” she noted.

Mrs. Kapkory also raised alarm over the increasing rate of teenage pregnancies in Trans Nzoia, revealing that 18 percent of girls in the county are now teenage mothers. She called for urgent sensitization efforts to promote discipline and awareness among young people.

“This number is too high. I am speaking to both boys and girls — we need urgent sensitization meetings across the county,”
she emphasized.

The Deputy Governor took the opportunity to urge citizens to participate in the ongoing voter registration exercise ahead of the 2027 General Elections, calling it a critical step toward electing responsible leaders.

“This is your chance to shape the future of our country. Come out in large numbers and register as voters,”
she said.

In her speech, Mrs. Kapkory paid tribute to the late Rt Hon Raila Amollo Odinga, whom she described as the father of democracy in Kenya and credited for the promulgation of the 2010 Constitution that brought services closer to the people through devolution.

“Raila Odinga endured a lot for the sake of this country. The county governments we celebrate today are part of his legacy, and we must honour that,”
she said.

Local Leaders Join Call for Urgent Action as Drug Abuse Ravages Cherang’any Youth

Deputy Governor Kapkory’s sentiments were strongly echoed by Trans Nzoia leaders, including Members of County Assembly (MCAs) Daniel Mosbei (Kaplamai), Simion Murei (Statunga), and Jackline Kurgat (Motosiet), who called for swift and decisive action to combat the drug abuse crisis sweeping Cherang’any Sub-County.

Hon. Mosbei described the rampant substance abuse in Kaplamai as a “captivity” robbing youth of their dignity and potential.

“Many youths have indulged in illicit brews and drugs, becoming prisoners of addiction,”
he lamented, urging the County Commissioner to implement concrete measures to tackle the menace.

Hon. Simion Murei raised concerns about a factory in Maili Saba, Statunga, allegedly producing large quantities of illicit brew despite Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) certification.

“This factory is flooding our communities with dangerous brews, and youths are flocking there daily,”
he said.

He painted a grim picture of young men wasting their days in drunken stupor with no opportunity to improve their lives.

Hon. Jackline Kurgat revealed the devastating toll in Motosiet Ward, where several youths have lost their lives to drug-related causes. She disclosed that in just two days, community fundraisers were held for the funerals of young victims.

“This is heartbreaking. We cannot sit and watch our youth perish,”
she said, calling on security agencies and local administrators to intensify crackdowns on drug peddlers.

Calls for Unified Community Action to Protect the Future

The leaders collectively called for enhanced sensitization campaigns, stricter enforcement against drug peddlers, and greater community involvement in reporting illicit activities.

They urged security agencies to collaborate closely with local leaders and residents to stem the tide of drug and substance abuse threatening the county’s youth.

“Our young people are the future of Trans Nzoia and Kenya at large. We must protect them from these destructive vices before it’s too late,”
Deputy Governor Kapkory concluded.