| 'Drugs problem can't simply be wished away' - D.C. Mbeere, Mugambi |
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Story and Pix by David Ogot © 2003
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"The problem of drugs today is so enormous, we are really worried wether we will ahve a society tomorrow or whether we are finishing ourselves. Those of you here today should reflect on this because it is a problem we cannot wish away and that is why we have suspended other activities today" to be here.
Today "is a saturday and those of us in (the) civil service would be enjoying elsewhere attending weddings or just resting" yet we are here.
These sentiments were conveyed by the D.C. Mbeere Mr Mugambi in his opening statement of a drug awareness seminar organised by the National Agency for the Campaign Against Drugs Abuse (NACADA) at Nyangua Secondary School, Kiritiri on the 4th. of October 2003
Nyangua was playing host to 15 other high schools from the area as well as five primary schools, giving an impressive total of 2,034 students and 91 teachers who would benefit from this crucial information.
The D.C. told the attentive gathering of students that they ha seen the problem of drug use in their homes with their own parents and relatives. "Includes beer and other pombe (alcohol) as well as miraa (khat) which is very popular with us here and has been here for a very long time and affects us."
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There was also bhangi (marijuana) in the district and that is why "we are here not because Mbeere has more drugs, but because drugs have become a national problem and we are part of that nation."
"I too was in school and have gone through all the processes, but there are those that I left behind." However there were some of his peers at the time who had not left behind certain habits and they had gone down completely and when he saw them all he could do was sympathise.
"Many of them had only been using alcohol and when you look at them now you cant tell they are young because they look so old."
Mugambi told them that from their ranks too would spring those who would end up victim to alcohol and other drugs and you wont believe how they will look when you see them.
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"Even here there are those who are in standard eight and your time in school is going to be very short. However many of you can't imagine that there will ever be a time you will leave your school uniform behind," feel you are trapped "so want to assert yourself now, no more harrassment from the teachers. You think even three months in uniform is too long when there are so many things out there to be tried and done. So you enter drugs."
The Mbeere D.C. pointed out that even now many of them present here had been decieved that if they chew miraa through the night you will be able to read and stay alert. "But you forget that during the days when others will be reading you will need to sleep"
His voice turning sombre and tinged with sorrow, he asked to tell them a true story. He then proceeded to tell the hushed listeners how his family had lost a small girl (his cousin) of eighteen years on the 27th of september a saturday on what they believed was a drug related cause.
"You cannot try to live my life, I am over 18 so the law allows me to drive a car and have a beer if I can afford it. You are under 18, with no money and no car, though maybe your father has a car. So you take your father's car, escape from school and then you want to live like me."
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The grave-faced official explained how "when you are out of school uniform some of you look like responsible wives and husbands to be. So these people went out, with a form three fellow driving, to a 'bash' as you call them from 8.00 pm to 3.00 am and ended up bashing themsleves to death.
A car which is meant to carry five people, was carrying eight driven by a third-former who had taken alcohol, and I believe other drugs. Three of them died there and then, three are critical and others are here and there.
Yet here we have a situation whereby your father is sleeping thinking you are in school or the hostels" instead you are out dying. "I Want you to be very open with the facilitators - if there are drugs here, say where they are and who are the suppliers. Don't forget today drugs also lead to AIDS. We have to know the right time to do the right thing.
Your total life in school is 20 years even if you are in college. By the time you are 22 you are probably working and on your own. You can then lead the good life to 60 or even 100 years." Mugambu concluded by underscoring that is they started on drug use now by the time they were adults there is no kind of good life they would enjoy as most of them would be cabbages.
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