The Office of the Spouse of the Deputy President Pastor Dorcas Rigathi is set to pilot a heath village rehabilitation centre in the country after a successful benchmark in Israel. Pastor Dorcas said in the health village addicts will be engaged in Agribusiness, Technical training through TVETs while undertaking the de-addiction.
Pastor Dorcas was speaking when she witnessed the signing of an MOU between the National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drugs-NACADA and the Association of Pentecostal and Evangelical Churches-APECK at the Deputy President Karen Residence.
Pastor Dorcas is the Patron of APECK in the country.
“We are piloting on what we are calling the health village. A health village is where the rehabilitation is within the community, and it is done in such a way when you rescue the drug addict they come into the rehabilitation Centre and within there they are going to be trained, in a vocational training Centre and have sporting activities within the same facility ,digital hubs as well as Agribusiness. “She said.
This comes after Pastor Dorcas completed a successful benchmarking program in Israel last month through the invitation of her friends in Israel. During her visit in Israel Pastor Dorcas toured 5 villages which have had successful rehabilitation programs.
“The signing of this MOU is a bold move and a strategic enabler by APECK and NACADA towards a sober society. “She said.
Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has pledged continuous government support towards a drugs free nation. Speaking during the signing of an MOU between the National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drugs-NACADA and the Association of Pentecostal and Evangelical Churches-APECK at the Deputy President Karen Residence the DP said the Government will put all efforts to fights drugs and substance abuse in the country.
“I am sure we will have a good country where people do the right things, and where people don’t take advantage of the frustrations of the young people for lack of employment to sell them illicit alcohol, drugs and other substance. “He said.
The Deputy President thanked religious leaders for their continuous support towards the boychild program run by Pastor Dorcas. DP Gachagua pledged to support the program.
Under the MOU the two organizations will conduct public education and advocacy, sharing of technical expertise as well as relevant information, mentoring and coaching and skilling the addicts with entrepreneurial skills. NACADA will also train the clergy on detection of drug addicts.
NACADA also called on churches to establish community rehabilitation centers.
The office of the Spouse of the Deputy President is targeting to rehabilitate at least 12,000 addicts by the end of this year. So far hundreds are already under a rehabilitation program in Timau,Meru County and other parts of the country.
Others who have signed MOU with NACADA SUPKEM, EAK,NCCK,Catholic church and the Seventh Day Adventist.
NACADA CEO Prof. John Muteti blamed the increased cases of drug and substance abuse to corruption within the systems.
“This war (on drugs) sometimes has not succeeded and one of the reasons is corruption. I have always wondered if there is somebody brewing illegally if there is somebody operating an alcoholic outlet illegally in a particular town, if there is somebody selling bhang in that particular town the assistant chief, the chief, the DCI, the OCS and all the other, are you telling us they have no idea that it is happening? “He asked.
The CEO of the Association of Pentecostal and Evangelical Churches of Kenya Bishop Geoffrey Gichuki pledged a strong working relationship between the two organizations towards a sober nation.
Other religious organizations that have signed MOUs with NACADA included SUPKEM, NCCK, EAK, The Catholic Church and the Seventh Day Adventist.
