A reformed alcoholic who recently graduated from the ‘Kaa Sober’ programme which was initiated by Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu has passed on.
The victim, Gabriel Njunguna, is said to have begun his battle with alcoholism after moving to Gakuyu village four years ago.
His cousin, Sabina Wanjiru, noted that Njunguna was dismissed from the programme after a week following the discovery that he was using his daily wedges to buy alcohol.
“They used to be paid Sh300 a day for cutting grass. They were discontinued because they used the money to buy alcohol,” said Wanjiru.
The deceased’s mother, Mary Njoki, revealed that her son worked at a shop where his employers consumed alcohol, a situation she says might have fuelled his addiction.
“I tried talking to him but it was all in vain because his employer kept alcohol at the shop. This made it hard for him to stop drinking because the alcohol was always available. He died outside the shop after vomiting,” said Njoki.
The family is now faulting the county government for allegedly implementing the programme without proper planning.
They argued that the money the beneficiaries received for doing casual works in the county only made it possible for them to fund their drinking lifestyle.
They further argued that the initiative was discriminatory, as some of the addicts who were allowed to finish the programme did not have dependency issues.
This comes a week after 5,000 youths graduated in Kiambu after successfully undergoing the rehabilitation programme.
The youth were each rewarded with Sh20,000 to set up businesses.