Police in Western Region unveil cross country championship to fight drugs

Kakamega,

Sunday, October 22, 2023

KNA by Moses Wekesa

Western Regional Police Commander Kiprono Lang’at has unveiled athletics championships in bid to fight drug and alcohol abuse in Western Kenya.

The race brought together various stakeholders including the National Authority for the Campaign Against Drug Abuse(NACADA), Kenya Film Classification Board (KFCB), The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), Anti- Doping Agency of Kenya(ADAK), Athletics Kenya(AK) and residents of Kakamega.

The race included a 10 kilometer and 2 kilometer challenge around Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology Pitch with the street children, community members, the corporate and elite athletes participating.

Western Regional Police Commander Kiprono Lang’at said the main aim of the competition was to sensitize residents of Kakamega to desist from drug and substance abuse.

He said that western region leads in drug and alcohol abuse, noting that use of drugs makes people unproductive, they become lazy and end up stealing other people’s sweat, warning that the drugs they use contain harmful chemical compounds that can even kill them.

The Regional Police Commander said that the athletics championship comes at a time when police have intensified crackdown on use of drugs and manufacturing of illicit liquor.

He said they have changed tact that it will not be enough to crackdown the drinking dens and those involved in producing illegal liquor but will provide alternative means for them to make a living.

The campaign will continue in other counties of Western Kenya including Busia, Vihiga and Bungoma where a sensitization forum will be held through athletics championships.

During the competition, Kakamega Deputy Governor Ayub Savula asked the government to increase funding to institutions that fight drug abuse like NACADA, the police and the County government in order to be effective.

He asked the government to revive the programme of integrating street children in the community through the National Youth Service warning that if not solved then the problem of street children will become a crisis.

He also asked the government to put up a full-fledged department within the police service to specifically deal with the issue of street children.

According to the Western region NACADA Coordinator Sarah Koske, Western region leads in alcohol use with 23.8 per cent according to a survey that they released recently.

She said the region also leads in alcohol induced disorders and mental health challenges associated with drug and alcohol abuse.

Courtesy; KNA