Uhuru Kenyatta declares war on drugs in Coast
From right, President Uhuru Kenyatta, Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho and other officials tour the county stand before he officially opened the Mombasa International Agricultural Show on August 27, 2015. PHOTO | KEVIN ODOT | NATION MEDIA GROUP
President Uhuru Kenyatta has directed an immediate crackdown on drugs, dealers and their dens at the Coast.
Mr Kenyatta on Thursday told local politicians to work with security forces to ensure all drug dens are eliminated in the same manner illicit brews were destroyed in central Kenya and Nairobi.
The illicit brew crackdown, he said, was a success and young people who had been addicted are now sober and working.
“I am happy now that the youth are sober and can work.... The war now should be on drugs,’’ he said when he opened this year’s Mombasa International Agricultural Show in Mkomani, Nyali.
The operation against drugs and drug cartels must be carried out from constituency to constituency, Mr Kenyatta said.
He warned drug barons that their vessels, including ships, would be destroyed alongside drugs.
WARNING
“Those who bring in the drugs should know we shall destroy their ships and the drugs. We shall sink their ships into the ocean,’’ he said.
Two weeks ago, the Kenya Navy destroyed a luxurious yacht that was found carrying 7.5 kilogrammes of heroin worth Sh29 million.
The President told politicians in the region to help identify drug dealers, insisting that they know them.
“I know that you political leaders know the drug dealers. Therefore, you should volunteer the information to police so that they can be brought to book,’’ he said.
He asked Coast Parliamentary Group chairman Gideon Munga’ro to lead his team in the campaign against the drug menace that has reduced many young people into zombies.
According to anti-drug abuse agency Nacada, more than 60,000 people are addicted to hard drugs in Coast.
JOHO PLEA
Mr Kenyatta gave the order after Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho asked him to intervene and issue a directive similar to the one he issued on illicit alcohol in central Kenya.
“We want the government to come out strongly in combating drugs just like what happened (in the) alcohol crackdown. We want the lives of our youths to be saved from drugs,’’ Mr Joho said.
Mr Joho has started a campaign against drugs that involves the county inspectorate, police and the community.
The governor praised County Commissioner Nelson Marwa for leading the fight against terrorism and insecurity in Mombasa County.
Reported by Daniel Nyassy, Bozo Jenje and Mathias Ringa
