Religious leaders in Baringo County have been called upon to play a more active role in combating alcohol and drug abuse, a growing menace that continues to devastate families and communities.
Speaking during the inaugural sensitization forum for clergy in Kabarnet, the County NACADA Coordinator, Edward Chelanga, emphasized that the battle against adulterated alcohol cannot be won by government alone without the involvement of the church and mosque leaders.
Chelanga lamented the rising cases of young men losing their lives to toxic brews, describing the situation as a silent epidemic robbing the community of its future. “Many families have lost energetic youth to killer drinks. Those who survive are left incapacitated, living like zombies,” he noted.
He urged religious leaders not to ostracize members struggling with addiction but instead to embrace them with compassion, counseling, and rehabilitation. According to Chelanga, addiction is a reversible condition, and spiritual leaders can use their pastoral skills to guide victims toward recovery.
The sensitization meeting brought together 45 interfaith leaders from Baringo Central Sub County, including representatives from churches and mosques. Chelanga highlighted the importance of collaboration between NACADA and religious institutions, noting that clergy can use platforms such as weddings, funerals, and other gatherings to educate communities on the dangers of substance abuse.
“We equipped the leaders with counseling skills and encouraged them to refer severe cases to rehabilitation centers such as Sobon in Eldama Ravine,” Chelanga explained.
He further urged the clergy to participate in public forums on liquor licensing, stressing that their voices are crucial in shaping policies that regulate alcohol production and sales. Proper licensing, he said, ensures compliance with health standards and prevents the proliferation of illicit brews.
Chelanga warned that failure to regulate the trade only fuels the spread of unlicensed and unsafe alcohol, which poses grave risks to public health.
The meeting, attended by Bishop Joshua Cheptarus of the Full Gospel Churches of Kenya, government administrators, and Sub-county official Geoffrey Kimaiyo, marked the first-ever NACADA sensitization forum for religious leaders in Baringo Central.
