Former Second Lady Dorcas Rigathi has warned that alcohol and drug abuse are taking a heavy toll on young Kenyan men, calling for families, religious leaders and communities to do more to address the crisis.
Speaking during a meeting with Kenyan women in Worcester, Massachusetts, in the United States, Rigathi described what she sees as a growing crisis affecting boys and young men, linking substance abuse to premature deaths, suicide, road accidents, crime and family hardship.
She said the consequences extend beyond those struggling with addiction, leaving parents grieving, children without support and families facing financial difficulties.
Rigathi raises concerns over university students
Rigathi cited alarming figures about substance abuse and suicide among university students during her remarks.
She claimed that, by the time she left office, half of university students were struggling with alcohol and drug abuse. She also alleged that at least 10 university students were dying by suicide each day.
The figures could not be independently verified and should not be treated as established national statistics.
Rigathi further claimed that boys account for about 90 per cent of those affected, arguing that the challenges facing young men deserve greater public attention.
She described the anguish of parents who send their children to university hoping they will graduate and build successful lives, only to lose them prematurely.
Central Kenya churches face mounting pressure
Rigathi singled out Central Kenya as one of the regions where she believes alcohol abuse is exacting a heavy toll on young men.
She said religious leaders were struggling to cope with frequent funerals involving young men reportedly dying from alcohol-related complications.
According to her account, some deaths occur after young men consume alcohol without eating.
Her remarks highlight concerns about the risks associated with excessive drinking and the wider effects of substance abuse on households and local communities. However, the scale of the problem in the region was not established through independently verified data in the account.
Road accidents and family hardship
Rigathi also linked substance abuse to road safety, expressing concern that some public transport and motorcycle taxi operators drive while intoxicated.
She warned that impaired driving puts passengers, pedestrians and other road users at risk of serious injury or death.
Alcohol and drug abuse can also have consequences beyond road accidents, particularly when addiction affects a person’s ability to work, maintain relationships or provide for dependants.
Rigathi argued that crime, imprisonment and premature deaths among men leave women and children struggling financially, with some households finding it difficult to meet basic needs, including school expenses.
She also raised concerns about gender-based violence, presenting substance abuse as one of the challenges affecting families and communities.
The links between substance use, violence and crime are complex, and the claims made during the meeting would require further evidence to establish their scale in Kenya.
Her experience supporting victims of illicit alcohol
Reflecting on her work as Second Lady, Rigathi said her office had assisted more than 2,000 people who lost their sight or limbs after consuming illicit alcohol.
She said the support included providing assistive devices to help those affected cope with permanent disabilities.
Her remarks drew attention to the potentially devastating consequences of consuming toxic or illicitly produced alcoholic drinks, which can leave survivors with life-changing injuries.
The figure she cited was not independently verified in the account.
Call for Kenyan women abroad to act
Rigathi urged Kenyan women living abroad to take a more active role in addressing substance abuse among young people back home.
She encouraged them to engage their sons and husbands in conversations about alcohol and drugs and to support awareness campaigns in Kenyan schools.
She also argued that efforts to protect girls should not overlook the difficulties facing boys, saying the deaths and imprisonment of young men have consequences for women, children and society as a whole.
Her appeal places families, schools, faith-based organisations and community groups at the centre of prevention efforts.
However, tackling substance abuse requires more than awareness campaigns alone. Access to treatment, mental health support, effective enforcement against illicit alcohol, and reliable data on the extent of the problem are also important to shaping an effective response.
Rigathi’s warning adds to the public conversation about the pressures facing young Kenyan men. The figures she cited remain unverified, but the concerns she raised point to the need for evidence-based interventions that help people struggling with addiction while supporting the families affected.
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