It’s a sigh of relief for the victims of drugs and substance abuse in Laikipia County after the commissioning of the counselling centre that will help them reform from the narcotic use menace.

The facility, which is the only counselling centre in Laikipia, will be a major boost to the government’s efforts in the fight against drugs and substance abuse among the youth in the Mt. Kenya region.

The facility, located within Likii Primary School in Nanyuki town, was funded by Likii River Farm at a cost of Sh4 million.

Speaking during the commissioning ceremony in Likii primary school, Laikipia County Secretary Koinange Wahome said that youth were going through a lot of challenges in their homes and hence spreading their challenges to others, which needed to be eradicated.

‘This will shape the lives of learners in schools, especially what they go through normally. We have realised after teaching them in class that they have a lot of challenges at home that need to be addressed through counselling,’ said Wahome.

He noted that with the counselling centre in schools, learners’ behaviours would be shaped for them to be responsible people in society.

Laikipia East Assistant County Commissioner Ms. Phoebe Mukami said that counselling centres in public schools would help them win the war against narcotics.

‘This is a win for us as a government because our fight against drugs and substance use is taking shape. This facility will transform the lives of residents by shunning narcotics use habits. Likii has several cases of crime issues,’ said the ACC.

The ACC revealed that mental disorders start at a tender age due to childhood problems, and the new counselling centre would arrest the situation on time and make them responsible citizens in the future. She noted they would follow up to ensure the facility served its intended purpose.

Likii Primary School headmistress Ms. Ann Muthomi said that issues of narcotics in school had stressed her, and that pushed her to seek help from well-wishers who constructed the counselling facility.

She thanked the sponsors and said her heart was at peace since she would be able to help learners with drug and substance abuse habits reform.

Likii Primary School Chairman Alexander Muchimi said most learners were prone to drug and substance abuse. He urged them to utilise the facility.

Source: Kenya News Agency