Interior PS Dr. Raymond Omollo has called for collective efforts by security teams, the business community, and religious and political leaders in the fight against drugs and substance abuse along the Mombasa–Nairobi highway.
Dr. Omollo said there is a lot of drug trafficking targeting the youth along the major road, and it is time for the relevant authorities and other stakeholders to move with speed and eradicate the menace completely.
The PS was speaking during the commemoration of the Chiefs Climate Action Day at Athi River Primary School in Mavoko Sub-county, Machakos County, where a tree-planting exercise was spearheaded by local chiefs together with school children, aimed at combating the impact of climate change.
The initiative, normally led by the respective area chiefs, has become a monthly national campaign conducted every first Friday of the month across all locations in the country.
Dr. Omollo called upon parents and teachers to work together and ensure they know the company their children keep, and always seek to know their whereabouts. Teachers should also remain on high alert to note any slight changes in behaviour or a drop in class performance.
“Parents and teachers should at all times keep the children away from unwarranted distractions and temptations that may interfere with their education,” he said.
At the same time, the PS condemned individuals who take advantage of the country’s unemployed youth to hook them into drugs and other criminal activities, thus causing the loss of a whole generation of Kenyans who can no longer achieve their full potential.
“It would not be acceptable for us to sit down and watch a few individuals mislead our children. Let parents and teachers take full responsibility and ensure the children are only focused on education for posterity,” he added.
However, on a positive note, Dr. Omollo pointed out that involving children in noble activities like tree planting is the surest way of addressing climate change action by promoting environmental awareness and instilling a sense of responsibility.
The PS added that this particular tree-planting exercise aimed at improving the prevailing environment and atmosphere in Mavoko and the larger Machakos in the coming years by championing grassroots-driven climate action.
“We want to come back here after five years and find a tree forest in Athi River that will, in the long run, help in conserving the environment,” reiterated the PS.
Meanwhile, the area County Commissioner, Josephine Ouko, disclosed that in a bid to achieve the presidential directive of planting 15 billion trees countrywide by 2032, Machakos County has so far planted over 2.8 million trees.
“We are well on course toward achieving our target of three million trees, sooner than expected,” she added.
By Anne Kangero
