By Caroline Katana
The National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA) has stepped up its collaboration with faith-based organizations in Kwale County to combat the rising cases of substance abuse and promote peace and social harmony among communities.
Eunice Kijala, a NACADA officer based in Kwale, said devolution has enabled the agency to expand its operations to all counties, bringing its sensitization and training programs closer to the people.
“Our core work as NACADA involves awareness creation, training, and sensitization across schools, communities, families, and workplaces. Today’s program brings together religious and interfaith leaders, who play a vital role in influencing communities toward peace and unity.” Said Kijala.
The training was organized in partnership with the Freedom of Religion and Belief (Forb) project, which promotes respect and coexistence among different religions.
According to Kijala, drug and substance abuse remains a key threat to social harmony and security in Kwale County.
NACADA offcer in Kwale, Eunice Kijala
“Drug abuse contributes to disunity and insecurity in society. For instance, we have cases like the ‘panga boys’ in Kwale, which are linked to youth involvement in drugs. Through our partnership with Facada, we are working to promote harmony and peace by engaging religious leaders — who are powerful agents of social influence,” she said.
Kijala emphasized that religious leaders can reach the grassroots more effectively and play a central role in educating communities on the dangers of alcohol and drug abuse.
“Poor parenting is one of the root causes of drug use among children. When parents fail to take responsibility, young people are left exposed to negative influences,” she noted.
A 2022 NACADA survey revealed that alcohol use stands at 11.8%, tobacco at 8.5%, while muguka ranks third among the most abused substances.
The data further shows that 17.8% of first-time users relapse into addiction — a worrying trend, according to Kijala.
“If we fail to strengthen interventions at the grassroots, we risk losing more young people to addiction. That’s why we’re urging communities and county governments to act now,” she warned.
Kijala called on citizens to visit the NACADA website for information on national drug trends, the impact of addiction, and rehabilitation options.
She also urged county governments to conduct localized research to understand the extent of the problem within their jurisdictions.
“NACADA carries out national surveys every five years, but under devolution, counties must also conduct their own research. When you have research data, you can design the right interventions to address the crisis effectively,” she said.
She further emphasized the need for collaboration among community-based organizations (CBOs), civil society groups (CSOs), and government agencies to reduce drug use.
“If all of us, NACADA, CBOs, CSOs, and the faith community work together, we can bring down the alarming rate of substance abuse,” she added.
As the long school holidays approach, Kijala cautioned parents to be vigilant, noting that drug peddlers are constantly finding new ways to attract young users.
“For example, cigarettes are now disguised as pens — known as ‘vapes’ in English. If a parent isn’t close to their child, it may be too late by the time they realize their child is using drugs, Parents should maintain strong relationships with their children to help them grow with discipline and good values,” she said.
During the same event, the Ajira Digital Program — a government initiative under the Ministry of ICT and Digital Economy — joined hands with Forb to empower young people with digital skills and online work opportunities.
Teresia Wanjiku, a trainer under the Ajira Digital Program, explained that the program equips young people with practical digital skills and guides them how to earn an income online.
“We have collaborated with Forb because they have a youth economic empowerment component. We step in to train youth on digital skills and then show them how to use those skills to get online jobs,” said Wanjiku.
Ajira Digital trainer, Teresia Wanjiku
The program offers 29 training modules/courses, allowing youth to choose that match their interests.
The training lasts two days to a week, followed by one month of mentorship.
“After mentorship, trainees can start working online because we guide them on job sourcing and freelancing platforms. All our trainings, mentorship sessions, and certificates are free of charge,” Wanjiku emphasized.
Ajira Digital has Youth Empowerment Centres in every constituency and Jitume Centres in TVET institutions across the country.
Youth can register and book virtual or physical trainings through the official portal ajiradigital.go.ke.
Emmanuel Kahaso, Project Manager of the Swahili Coast Forb Project, said the collaboration between Forb and Ajira Digital is designed to engage faith leaders in guiding youth toward digital opportunities rather than drug abuse.
“We are encouraging religious leaders to use their influence to reach out to young people and help them enroll in online training programs. Through the Ajira Digital initiative, youth can be empowered economically without any cost,” said Kahaso.
He noted that digital skills, including AI, content creation, and online marketing, are now essential for economic empowerment.
“A young person with a smartphone can easily start an online career as a content creator or digital marketer. These are the vital skills we want to equip them with,” he said.
Project Manager of the Swahili Coast Forb, Emmanuel Kahaso
The Forb project is also providing startup kits to youth groups to support them launch online businesses.
“For instance, a youth group can request a laptop or smartphone as their business hub. The goal is to ensure that the project opens up global digital job markets for local youth,” Kahaso added.
The initiative targets at least 150 young people in the region, with hopes of reaching even more if faith leaders fully mobilize their congregations.
The partnership between NACADA, Forb, and the Ajira Digital Program symbolizes a growing national movement that connects moral leadership, behavioral change, and digital innovation.
Together, they aim to steer young Kenyans away from drug addiction and into a future of productivity, creativity, and peace.
