Nairobi — Law enforcement organizations have recently adopted the lead-by-example principle in an effort to tackle the growing national plague of drug and substance addiction.
A number of rehabilitation programs have been lined up to help security officers struggling with dependence and addiction recover from the scourge.
Speaking during the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking (IDADA) at the Bomas of Kenya, the Internal Security and National Administration Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo the plan is to give affected officers more access to expert care as well as supportive counseling, and in the end, to establish them as respectable role models.
"To serve as an example, we have begun sowing these seeds of change from within, and our focus is on our security officers," he said, adding that the move will also demonstrate a higher level of commitment of the officers in enforcing the national guidelines on alcohol and drug use prevention.
Omollo said that prolonged exposure to high-stress situations and work-related problems account for most addiction cases inside the National Police Service.
He added that this is a sobering fact that the government has made an effort to address through the sector's continuing reforms.
He said, "It is with a heavy heart that we acknowledge this harsh reality. These brave men and women confront harrowing situations; some of them come face-to-face with life-threatening risks, and we have always counted on them to bear the weight of our national security burden without failure."
According to him, the government continues to deploy an open dialogue strategy in encouraging the affected officers to commit to the available alcohol addiction recovery programs.
The PS also stated that among the key priorities set for this financial year is the improvement of police welfare, with a focus on their working conditions and remuneration.
This will also be extended to mental health support and stress management programs to avert the destructive path of substance abuse.
"That is why we are encouraging them to seek help without fear of judgment, victimization or repercussions," he noted.
His call to action is aligned with the theme of this year's World Drug Day, which the message is anchored on ending stigma and discrimination against the addicts.
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This approach is already yielding positive results, with more than 30 officers recently graduating from the Rehabilitation Centre at the Regional Police Training Center in Kimilii, Bungoma County.
These measures come as the Kenya Kwanza government fulfilled its promise and increased budgetary allocation for the war against illicit brews and substance abuse.
In budget proposals read in Parliament on Thursday by National Treasury CS Njuguna Ndungu, the Interior Ministry was allocated Sh182.5 billion for the 2023-24 fiscal year.
Interior PS Raymond Omollo on 16th June in a statement, said the budget will elevate the ministry's coordination and support actions for other government entities in the counties including the fight against drug use and illicit brews.
These include National Police Service, National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse and National Government Administrative Officers.
Omollo said Sh729 million has been set aside for operations in the fight against alcohol and drug abuse, part of which will go into the construction of a model treatment and rehabilitation centre.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki speaking on Sunday 18th June during a prayer service in Murang'a, Kindiki said the country risks losing an entire generation to the vices.
"The manufacture, trade, use and abuse of illicit alcohol and narcotic drugs in Central Kenya and other parts of the country is a serious security threat," Kindiki said.
"The government will not backtrack in this fight and will deploy equal if not more ruthlessness and viciousness as it has in combating terrorism and banditry."
