Meru Woman Rep seeks to rehabilitate youth with economic programme

Young people involved in Meru’s creative industry and sports are set to benefit from the economic empowerment programme spearheaded by Meru County Woman Representative Karambu Kailemia.

The initiative comes as part of a bold campaign to combat what she has called “Kenya’s most devastating youth crisis” , the alarming rise in drug and substance abuse.

Meru County, a key region in the Mount Kenya area, has been heavily affected by addiction-related challenges, especially among youth.

Speaking at the launch of her ambitious year long campaign, #KasoberTunawezabila, Hon. Kailemia announced targeted interventions designed to uplift vulnerable youth through mentorship, talent development, and peer-led awareness campaigns.

“This is the first campaign of its kind in Meru County,” she said. “We’re not preaching to these young people, we're empowering them to lead their own recovery and prevention efforts.”

The urgency of the campaign is underscored by recent findings from the National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA), released during the 2025 Agricultural Society of Kenya (ASK) Embu Show.

The report reveals that alcohol is the most widely abused substance among youths especially university students in Kenya, with 87.3 per cent reporting consumption, followed by cigarettes at 64.4 per cent and shisha at 41.2 per cent. Other substances in use include vapes at 31 per cent, nicotine pouches 30.7 per cent, kuber at 23 per cent, and snuff or chewed tobacco at 22.1 per cent.

Sources of these substances are equally concerning, with students citing friends at 66.4 per cent, neighbourhood bars and canteens at 59.3%, fellow students at 56%, lecturers and online platforms 39.4% each as primary suppliers.

Alarmingly, the use of harder drugs such as inhalants), cocaine and heroin is also on the rise.

Breaking away from traditional punitive approaches, Hon. Kailemia's says the campaign aims to position youth as change agents rather than victims.

The programme will engage local musicians, athletes, artists, and community leaders to drive impactful change through peer-to-peer interventions, talent showcases, and economic empowerment forums across all six constituencies in the county.

“We are losing an entire generation,” Kailemia warned at the campaign launch, attended by hundreds of youth. “Young people are spending their hard-earned money on drugs and gambling instead of food, perpetuating cycles of poverty.”

She emphasized her commitment to what she calls practical motherhood offering unconditional support while demanding accountability.

“I see myself as a real mother to you; most of you are like my last-born since you're under 30,” she told the visibly moved audience. “My office door remains open for personal support—but you must be willing to fight for your future.”

Earlier this year, Hon. Kailemia launched a Gender-Based Violence (GBV) intervention in Meru North, which is now being expanded countywide in recognition of how social issues like violence, addiction, and unemployment are interconnected.

In addition to substance abuse, the campaign will take direct aim at the rampant rise in irresponsible gambling.

Mobile betting platforms have ensnared many young people, draining meagre incomes and driving debt-fueled addiction cycles.

Social workers report that some youth are even borrowing money to buy basic meals after losing their wages to gambling.

“When a young person chooses betting over buying sukuma wiki, we have failed as a society,” Kailemia said firmly.

The campaign comes at a critical moment. With Kenya’s youth unemployment rate surpassing 20%, and mental health support systems strained, many experts view the initiative as a crucial and possibly final intervention to avert the collapse of an entire generation.

“There’s still so much more to do,” Hon. Kailemia admitted. “But this is our line in the sand—we refuse to surrender our children to addiction.”

Plans are already underway to establish a county rehabilitation centre as part of the campaign, ensuring sustained support for those in recovery.