Rev Fredrick Ngugi Leads APECK in Applauding President’s Bold War on Drugs, Calls for Stronger Faith State Partnership

By John Kariuki

Rev Fredrick Ngugi, the National Chairman of the Association of Pentecostal and Evangelical Clergy of Kenya APECK, has commended the President for his bold and visionary New Year national address that declared alcohol and drug abuse a national development and security emergency.

In a message to the Head of State, Rev Ngugi said the declaration had given a voice to millions of Kenyan families who have endured silent suffering as addiction continues to tear apart homes, destroy livelihoods and derail the future of the nation’s youth. He described the President as a focused and decisive leader who, once committed to a national cause, pursues it with clarity, precision and purpose.

Rev Ngugi particularly praised the President’s directive to expand the Anti Narcotics Unit and his firm resolve to dismantle the financial networks that sustain drug barons across the country. He noted that such action demonstrates a level of political will that has been missing for decades and marks a clear shift from rhetoric to decisive leadership.

 According to the APECK chairman, the country is now witnessing leadership that confronts hard problems head on with a clear roadmap for lasting solutions.

Speaking from the perspective of the clergy, Rev Ngugi said faith leaders have remained on the front lines of the fight against addiction, often working with limited resources to rescue young people from the grip of drugs and alcohol. He highlighted APECK’s deep investment in Community Based Rehabilitation, a model that focuses on treating addicts within their social environment to support long term recovery and reintegration into society. From grassroots experience, he observed that while awareness efforts are important, meaningful recovery requires intensive, round the clock care and sustained community support.

The APECK National Chairman said the President’s renewed commitment has restored hope among faith based actors, assuring them that they are no longer fighting the crisis alone. With the highest office in the land now fully engaged, Rev Ngugi said the country has reached a defining moment and that 2026 could mark a turning point in reclaiming a generation that has been pushed to the margins by addiction.

However, Rev Ngugi cautioned that the success of Community Based Rehabilitation, which he described as more accessible and cost effective than institutional care, depends heavily on sustainable support. He noted that many Faith Based Organizations working in villages and urban informal settlements are overwhelmed by the growing number of people seeking help.

He has therefore appealed to the government to consider direct funding and structured resource allocation to Faith Based Organizations already implementing Community Based Rehabilitation programmes. Rev Ngugi said empowering the church with financial and technical support would strengthen an existing and trusted community infrastructure that reaches deep into society and delivers real impact.

Rev Ngugi reaffirmed that APECK stands ready to work closely with the government to ensure the national campaign against alcohol and drug abuse succeeds. He expressed confidence that through strong collaboration, Kenya can break the chains of addiction and secure a sober, productive future for its people.

He concluded by 

offering prayers for the President and the nation as Kenya confronts one of its most urgent social challenges.