CS Kariuki says Nyandarua has more bars than churches, schools combined

Health Cabinet Secretary Cecily Kariuki.

Health Cabinet Secretary Cecily Kariuki has blamed the rising cases of homicides and suicide in Central region on the residents' bad drinking habit and drug abuse.

She took issues with the over 2000 bars in Nyandarua county, saying the high number of drinking spots is responsible for the suicide cases.

"The county government must bring this number down. We cannot have such a huge number of bars that exceed the schools and churches combined," said Ms Kariuki.

Kariuki said the government will adopt an integrated, promotive and preventive approach within a multi-agency approach to minimise the cases.

"As leaders, we are concerned about these cases and we want them to end. All stakeholders including the government have to be involved to find a lasting solution to this problem," she said.

The CS cited Nyandarua County as one of the most affected regions after recording 27 deaths related to suicide since January 2019, saying action must be taken to curb the trend.

She said it was high time the Nyumba Kumi initiative, village elders, youth leaders, community health volunteers among other stakeholders came together and conducted promotive education and awareness campaigns in their neighbourhood.

Ms Kariuki was speaking when he toured Ndaragwa Constituency in Nyandarua County where she also observed that non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, cancer, Hypertension which are lifestyle-related to manage them.

 Ndaragwa MP Jeremiah Kioni and Woman Rep Faith Gitau who underscored the need for concerted efforts to address these health challenges.

They said the community must start engaging each other even at the lowest levels to help tackle drug menace.