Story and Pix by David Ogot snr. ©April 2003

President Mwai Kibaki and his ministers have trumpeted much needed, radical reforms in almost every sphere touching intimately on the lives of Kenyans. All except one crucial area in which the silence which has seen the first 100 days of the new government come and go is now taking on an ominous ring.

With each announcement and revelation, I have waited with bated breath for direction, only to be pounded by excruciating, thunderous, deafeningly painful silence!

Baffled at how an issue that often-times tragically cuts across huge swathes of Kenyan society impacting them deeply emotionally, financially, psychologically and socially, has not been mentioned at all. Yet it causes suffering to hundreds of thousands of Kenyans daily.

Why had nobody else noticed? Could nobody else hear the silence? Or was it to be like the quiet disappearance of the jogoo (cockerel) on the Kenyan coat-of-arms used on the 100 days "Our New Kenya" full page colour poster issued by the ruling party National Rainbow Coalition (NARC) through the local dailies on the 9th of April, this major alteration to our crown did not elicit any comment nor any raised eyebrows from Kenyans.

In his speech during the state opening of the Ninth Parliament on the 10th of February, 2003, our new President said, "our most heartfelt gratitude goes to Kenyan's. It is the citizens of this country who went peacefully to the polls in December last year and elected us to this House. Let us be forever mindful of the great responsibility they have placed on our shoulders."

The President stated that the Ninth Parliament "heralds Kenya's long awaited second liberation."

To this end, President Kibaki reiterated their commitment to creating a culture of zero tolerance to corruption in Kenya. Also stressed in his speech was the need to assure rule of law was upheld in this country, "Ensuring this would be our most enduring legacy as a government."

Indeed as I eagerly listened to his speech my heart soared with happiness. I had long been of the opinion that the apathy, indifference and especially denial which grips Kenyans when faced with certain life threatening situations could only be tackled with energetic guidance from the top - the President.

Thus his words were heady music to my ears. On corruption: "the fight against corruption in Kenya will start at the top." Health; "First and foremost is the fight against HIV/AIDS. It contributes greatly to poverty." Crime: "Every Kenyan has a right to life and ownership of property. Sadly there are some Kenyans who have chosen to make it a habit to disrupt the lives of other Kenyans." His message to them was clear. "lay down your wicked ways and respect your neighbours."

On and on touching on every facet of our lives the speech hummed before the President concluded "Our moment in history has arrived. For the sake of the Kenyan people let us not squander it." Adding that the fight would not be won in 100 days, "I am proud to say we have started on the right foot."

The 'silence' continued to pound me mercilessly. Maybe before the 100 days 'honeymoon' period was over. But no. The President's speech marking 100 days of the NARC Administration said nothing. Unbroken silence. It just talked about how far the government had gone to deliver pledges made on education, corruption, environment, freedoms, security and health amongst others.

The President however reiterated my opinion that for some initiatives to succeed the dire consequences of failure should be emphasised by the top man in the highest office in the land.

This was by his stand on HIV/AIDS. "to emphasise the seriousness with which my government takes the HIV/AIDS crises, we have established a cabinet committee on HIV/AIDS under my chairmanship. This pandemic shall no longer be a secret to be swept under the carpet. We must discuss it openly even when this touches on sensitive issues of sexuality."

Aaaaah! So near yet so far. Towards the end of this 100 days of Narc speech Kenya’s third head of state delivers a telling statement. "We have made promises and are in the process of keeping them. Where there are delays, these are sincere. We are not a government that makes promises we don't intend to keep."

I began to understand the silence. Like the quietly removed 'jogoo' from the country's coat-of-arms on the 100 days full page poster printed in the dailies. It is always there. So nobody noticed it was missing. When I was a kid I always remembered when you had to hide something effectively, the most obvious place usually made the best hidding place. It was so obvious nobody would think of looking for it there.

I now realised NARC had made no pre or post election promises to fight drug abuse as a priority. So that was not one promise we could say they had broken. Hence the silence. The loud silence on the issue of drug use was deafening.

In fact the only event connecting the Narc-led government to the anti-drug use campaign was the quiet down-grading of the National Agency for the Campaign against Drug Abuse (Nacada) from the Office of the President (OP) to the Home Affairs Ministry. Lumping it back with prisons and borstal institutions. This was done with no fanfare and like the missing 'jogoo' nobody seems to have noticed.

From there nothing has been heard about drugs either from the President or his ministers. If I did not know better, I would say the problem of alcohol use, alcoholism and drug use has been eradicated or reduced to levels not warranting the attention of the Head of State.

But I do not live in Outer Mongolia. Not only do I live in Kenya but I am also a recovering alcoholic. I know too well the chaos I caused in almost three decades of drinking, which started with a simple sip in form one to prove I was a "tough guy" and so get a girlfriend.

The years of hell my parents, relatives, friends, employees and later on my own wife and children went through before I got sober still make me shudder. I see it every day in those I try to help. The desperation in the eyes of parents, sisters, husbands, brothers, mirrors the haunted look I used to see my people as they sought help for me. The sheer terror which comes from being helpless as you watch someone dear to you inexplicably kill themselves in front of you with drink and other drugs.

In the 100 plus days of the NARC-led Government, silence we have seen young lives casually snuffed out after drinking certain brands sold in mini-packs (small sachets). We have applauded women in many towns and even Nairobi as they raided liquor dens emptying containers of all manner of brews before smashing them. These women have remained undaunted even in spite of being arrested, steely eyed in their determination to save their loved ones. Mr. President the print and electronic media have continued to valiantly highlight the voice of your people crying, and gnashing their teeth in anguish.

As worries about the alcohol in mini-packs (small satchets) which are sold in super markets, kiosks, bars and on the street, increased, 15 tonnes were condemned as unfit for consumption by the Government chemist. Many of these brands are freely advertised in the local media.

Still in the 100 days of silence as some boys were appearing in court over an ongoing case where tens of students were killed in a dormitory fire allegedly set by them. Another set of boys were caught red-handed in the school compound carrying containers brimming with petrol in the wee hours in what was to be another arson attack. Many of these attacks have been linked to drug abuse.

There is the ongoing fiasco with a Naivasha based brewer who seemingly can defy all and sundry including the Kenya Bureau of Standards and the judiciary to keep operating. All this as a South African sobbed in the dock after being jailed for five years for trafficking cocaine.

The Muslims Education Welfare Association (MEWA) revealed some statistics from a recent research they had undertaken. To me the most alarming aspect was that the average age of drug addicts in the last two years has dropped from 16 to 12. Yet with all this information it is during these 100 days of silence that one of the alcohol beverage manufacturers launched yet another "the-more-you-drink-the-more-chances-you-have-of winning-competition." Apparently having learnt well from the last competition where only one brand was eligible, this time all their 12 brands were qualified roping in everybody. With millions of shillings at stake and a chance to win daily, that definitely sent any chance of responsible drinking out of the window for the two or so months it would run. Not even the forests had been spared due to cultivation of cannabis sativa (bhang) as Minister Newton Kulundu pointed out and here yet the President would soon personally lead a national tree planting exercise.

Church organisations too were to be used as a major resource in fighting HIV/AIDS. How do you fight HIV/AIDS without touching alcohol abuse, alcoholism and other drugs? To a large extent the two are inextricably linked. Walk into any bar and quietly observe the clients for 30 minutes if you doubt this.

Talk to parents, teachers - walk into a drug rehabilitation center. Kenyans are suffering silently. How can you admit your loved is alcoholic? You think the shame and stigma will kill you. Wrong! The alcohol will kill them. Yet all around us we are surrounded by bars even in the residential estates. What message is this sending to our youth? Alcohol is the best way to entertain yourself, relax and socialise.

Mr. President one promise you did make and I want to ask you to please keep it. At the end of your 100 days of Narc speech, you said "It is my singular honour to serve the people of Kenya. To serve selflessly is the most important promise I make to you, the Kenyan people."

Please then Mr. President can you take it upon yourself to do a great service to the Kenyan people who are suffering silently and tell them that alcoholism is a disease and not somebodys fault. Can you tell them that the best way to handle alcoholism is get help for the person and not hide them in shame.

Mr. President can we set up a National Drug Policy and put in place mechanisms to save our youth who comprise 60% of our population, from misery and finally death through alcohol and drug abuse. Mr. President can the issue of rehabilitation centers be finally addressed and dealt with so as to end decades of foot dragging? The thorny issue of chang'aa and traditional liquor should also be laid to rest.

The World Health Orgnanisation (WHO) projects that alcohol use will claim more human lives this century more than any other disease and that these figures will overwhelm the hazards posed by unsafe sex surpassing even the adverse effects of two other formidable foes to health tobacco and illicit drugs.

Tens of millions of shillings are lost through corruption, loss of skilled man-power, needless deaths, health bills, HIV/AIDs and Security which are directly attributable to alcohol abuse, alcoholism and rug abuse. We must change the drinking and drugging culture we have insidiously acquired. As it stands now, Calleb Angira Programme Director of Asumbi Therapeutic Community described our culture as "wining, dining and dancing," with emphasis on wining. Mr Angira made this statement in the novel video documentary 'Nobody Kick's A Dead Dog'. But what is not quantifiable is the pain and anguish families and friends go through.

In order therefore to fulfil many of your government's pledges the fight against drug abuse cannot be avoided as it cuts across all strata of society. Addiction is an equal opportunity disease. If you can take this fight up with the same flair and single minded determination with which you have taken up other issues, millions of Kenyans who are now suffering silently will be eternally grateful to you and the NARC-led Government.

This is still your moment in history. You Sir, are at a crossroads and as is wont to happen in history at such crossings, one oft is hampered with lack of a map and is left to navigate solely with gut instinct only to later fall victim to the derision which only comes with hind sight. In your case Mr. President, providence has provide you a map on which the right direction is starkly etched. Time stands still as the country collectively awaits...!

Mr. President please stand up and break the silence. Ensuring this would be your most enduring legacy as a government. That is my promise to you!

A condensed version of this article appeared in East African Standard newspaper dated Tuesday April 29th 2003 under the heading Official silence on alcoholism curious.

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