Leaders and government officials in North Eastern region have raised alarm over illegal entry of bhang from neighbouring Ethiopian highlands into the counties of Mandera and Wajir.
The bhang is reportedly stuffed in tubeless truck tyres and sneaked into the country to avoid detection by security
officers manning various road blocks across the region.
These revelations emerged on Tuesday during a seating of the Regional Implementation and Coordination Committee meeting Chaired by the North Eastern Regional Commissioner (RC), Mohamed Birik when members raised concern over the increased peddling of bhang in the two counties.
Birik said the government is aware of the problem and added he had personally instructed the two counties’ security
committees to move with speed and arrest the situation. “We are aware of the problem and leaders have also been raising the same at various forums. I am happy that something is been done to curb the menace,” Birik said.
The RC said that he was worried that the problem might spill over to Garissa and instructed area County Commissioner (CC), Mwangi Meru to come up with a 100-day Rapid Results Initiative (RRI) to fight drug abuse and illicit brew in the area.
The administrator said RRI has worked elsewhere and was an effective approach to deal with such menace.
“My only concern is that we may eliminate the menace within the RRI period but fail to sustain the campaign thereafter,” he added.
Speaking over the weekend, National Assembly Majority Leader and Garissa Township MP, Aden Duale expressed concern over the increasing number of youth who are abusing drugs.
Duale said it was the responsibility of the chiefs and their assistants to ensure drug peddlers in their areas of jurisdiction are arrested and prosecuted.
He said that parents have on several occasions complained to him over the same, noting that the country risks losing a whole generation to drug abuse.
“We want to see the peddlers arrested and prosecuted. These people are known and time has come for them to face the law,” Duale said.
“We can’t afford to lose a whole generation because of a few selfish people who want to make quick money at the expense of our youth,” he added.
By Jacob Songok
