Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko has urged youths to shun criminal life and drug abuse and instead seek help from government and organisations offering development initiatives.
Sonko, who visited boxing heroine Conjestina Achieng at the Eden House Rehabilitation Centre, Diani called on drug addicts to seek help from rehabilitation centres across the country.
“We cannot have a society that is breeding criminal gangs and drug addicts. We have to ensure all our youths are involved in productive activities,” Sonko told journalists at the centre.
The governor hailed the progress Conjestina has made within a year, noting that her recovery will serve as a great inspiration to many youth who have been in her state.
“She is recovering well and this means that rehabilitation is a great thing that we all must encourage,” said Sonko.
Conjestina was airlifted by the Governor from Kisumu for the rehabilitation, after her sorry state attracted public outcry from Kenyans, who criticized the government for abandoning her.
The governor took the eight recovering addicts at the rehab for shopping at Naivas Ukunda.
Conjestina said she is grateful to Sonko and his continued support for her health.
“I will always appreciate what the governor has been doing for me and many other people in need of help,” she said.
She dismissed speculation that she had escaped the rehab.
“I feel I am getting okay. A lot has been said about me but it is all not true,” she said.
The rehab’s clinical coordinator David Karatu said the Governor has been instrumental in helping addicts recover.
“Conjestina is here courtesy of the Governor. But she is not the only one who has been here courtesy of Sonko. There are others who have been here courtesy of him too,” Karatu said.
He said addicts are patients who need care and love from the society as shown by Sonko.
In Nairobi, a crackdown on all street families and drug addicts has been launched, with over 300 people having been taken to various rehabilitation centres within the last one month.
The Governor said that his government has set aside Sh21 million to renovate the four major rehabilitation centres in the city.
He called on all county governments to invest in the same.
Youth who will successfully undergo the rehabilitation process will be absorbed in the county’s beautification program and other initiatives geared towards youth empowerment.