Pubdate: Fri, 07 Nov 2003
Source: East African Standard, The (Kenya)
Copyright: 2003 The East African Standard
Contact:  http://www.eastandard.net/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1743

SIGEI, NYASEDA'S SILENCE ON DRUG ABUSE A BETRAYAL

Nairobi

Last week, we highlighted a case of wanton drugs sale that is going on on 
one of the streets of Nairobi. The anonymous Kenyan who alerted us of the 
problem also made us understand that the police were aware of it and they 
regularly visited the area where they allegedly collect some pay-offs.

They were thus doing nothing about it.

We called upon the National Co-ordinator of the Campaign Against Drug Abuse 
(Nacada), Mr Joseph Kaguthi, the Nairobi PC, Mr Francis Sigei and the 
Police Commissioner, Mr Edwin Nyaseda, to get to the root of the case and 
arrest it.

Yesterday, we carried a response from Kaguthi. He seems to be the only 
person whose conscience was touched by the story. We have had no response 
from Nyaseda who perhaps does not think it has anything to do with the law 
and we have heard nothing from Sigei who perhaps does not think that it is 
within his jurisdiction to comment or act on such matters.

We do not want to ask the simple question that must be on the minds of all 
those that are concerned about drugs problem in our country, which is: what 
happened to public service? To service geared towards safeguarding the 
well-being of the society? If Sigei can't talk and he is the PC and Nyaseda 
can't act and he is the police commissioner, on whose hands has the fate of 
this capital city, this nation, been left?

Kaguthi made it clear that he is not a law enforcer. His mandate does not 
include drug supply reduction. "Powers in this area rest with the police, 
public health, provincial administration, local authorities . . . " he said 
in his response. he has done his bit.

Those who read his response came face to face with a man who is taking his 
work seriously but whose efforts are hampered by the levity with which 
other arms of the Government are treating matters of national importance.

Kaguthi made it clear that for this problem to be effectively solved, drug 
abuse should be reported to senior police officers and even the administration.

But dear Kenyans, if Nyaseda and Sigei can't see the magnitude of the 
problem we are facing and promptly do their bit what answer do people like 
Kaguthi and other Kenyans of goodwill have to this problem? The two 
leaders' silence is a betrayal to a besieged nation.
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MAP posted-by: Larry Stevens