Sober jackpot! Reformed alcoholics get Sh. 101 million

Reformed alcoholics at a past graduation

Sober minds can think and help in developing the economy.

Kiambu county reformed alcoholics have been empowered by Governor Ferdinand Waititu to kick-start business ventures.

Waititu on Tuesday presided over the ‘Kaa Sober’ initiative graduation ceremony of 5,078 former alcoholics held at Ndumberi Grounds, Kiambu.

During the ceremony, the governor issued Ksh101 million to the graduands as capital to invest.

“They are now reformed people and ready to do various jobs. We decided not to buy them any equipment but instead give them money to start businesses of their choice,” Waititu divulged.

Ferdinand Waititu holds a drunk youth during a raid of bars in Wangige

Kenneth Kimathi, a Kaa Sober programme graduand gave a grim narration to Ton how he fell into alcoholism and down into a deep dark abyss, adding that he would definitely be dead were it not for the initiative.

The Kahawa Wendani resident disclosed that he turned to the bottle upon returning from work in Afghanistan in 2012.

“I became a perennial drunkard. I was always in the club where I would drink to keep away the stress,” he revealed.

“Eventually my father kicked me out since I was always violent while drunk. They could no longer keep me in their home,” he added.

He has since undergone training as a caterer and plans to use the Ksh50,000 he received to start a bakery.

Governor Waititu. in his address at the function. stated that the county government was willing to foot the bills of all those who will be enrolled in various polytechnics to undertake technical courses of their choice.

A section of recovering addicts under the Kiambu County Kaa Sober programme who graduated on Tuesday

In November 2018, the rehabilitation programme members were enrolled for short courses in polytechnics across the county where they were trained technical skills such as masonry, plumbing, bakery, beadwork, tailoring, electrical installations, hairdressing and welding, among others.

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