Clerical Figures Urged to Combat Substance Abuse Struggle

The Mombasa International Show, a much-anticipated event, is set to run from Wednesday to Sunday, featuring over 200 exhibitors from across the globe. Among the exhibitors are first-time participants from Kenya such as Kipchimchim Group, the Office of the Auditor-General, Kenya Sugar Board, Dola Group, Mombasa Cement, and Inchcape Kenya. The show will also welcome exhibitors from China, Argentina, Ghana, Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Tanzania, and Botswana.

However, amidst the excitement, a pressing issue has come to the forefront. Fredrick Ngugi, the director of the National Campaign Against Drug Abuse (NACADA), has highlighted a concerning rise in drug and alcohol abuse in Mombasa and Nairobi. Ngugi, who spoke at the Anglican Church of Kenya (ACK) Mombasa Memorial Cathedral during a harvest festival thanksgiving service for the Mombasa International Show, stated that approximately 3.5 million youths aged between 15 and 24 years are addicted to drugs and alcohol.

Ngugi lamented the apathy of many religious organizations towards this issue, urging clergy to take a leading role in rehabilitating addicts. He encouraged church leaders not to ignore addicts living on the streets and to take action to identify and rehabilitate them. Bishop Albinus Muthakwa and Bishop Mwaro Baya, in their respective sermons, also urged active participation in the rehabilitation of drug addicts.

Sadly, Ngugi reported that some addicts who are unable to access rehabilitation are dying from self-inflicted injuries. He urged clergy to personally take responsibility for rehabilitating at least one addict and helping them access rehabilitation.

Beyond the drug issue, Bishop Baya highlighted the challenges faced by farmers, stating that agriculture is not rewarding, causing some farmers to abandon it. He urged the government to support farmers to increase food production, citing a decline in food production in some areas due to a lack of government support and poor market prices for produce.

Entry fees for the Mombasa International Show have been set at Sh350 for adults, Sh300 for children, and Sh250 for groups of 10 or more children. As the show unfolds, it serves as a platform for showcasing Kenya's potential while also bringing attention to pressing social issues that require collective action.