Pubdate: Fri, 16 Jul 2004
Source: East African Standard, The (Kenya)
Copyright: 2004 The East African Standard
Contact:  http://www.eastandard.net/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1743

MINISTRY ORDERS CLOSURE OF KIOSKS PEDDLING DRUGS

NAIROBI

The government yesterday ordered the immediate closure of kiosks
operating within and outside public schools.

Head teachers will be personally held accountable for any incidents of
substance abuse or immorality in their institutions.

The new anti-drugs crusader, Mrs Roselyne Onyuka, warned parents that
the money they are giving their children could be ending up in the
pockets of drug barons.

She said sale of hard drugs had gained a foothold in all public
schools with secondary schools being the worst hit.

"Eighty-nine per cent of primary schools have drug problems while in
secondary schools it is 100 per cent," said Onyuka, who heads the
National Agency for Campaign Against Drug Abuse (Nacada).

Assistant Minister for Education Mrs Beth Mugo told head teachers that
they risked interdiction if they failed to comply with the directive.

Onyuka had accompanied the Dagoretti MP to Westlands Primary School
where a kiosk operator was suspected of introducing children to drugs.

They also visited Muthurwa Primary School in Nairobi's Eastlands where
bhang was being grown.

Mugo dismissed a court order obtained by the owner of the kiosk
against its demolition, saying it was secondary to what she termed as
national interests.

At least one pupil was reported to have been affected by consumption
of sweets sold at the kiosk and suspected to be laced with drugs.
Police had by yesterday not established the substance allegedly used
to lace the sweets.

A recent survey conducted by NACADA in all public schools revealed
that up to 30 per cent of students in secondary schools were addicted
to drugs. Officials have also linked the wave of unrests in schools to
abuse of drugs and indiscipline.
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MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin