Men behind bars contributing to poor economy – Pastor Dorcas

Pastor Dorcas Rigathi has said part of the reasons Kenya's economy is struggling is because men who are a key cog in its growth are languishing in jail.

Speaking on Wednesday in Kiambu, Pastor Dorcas called for urgent intervention saying drugs and alcohol abuse are sending men to prison where they constitute over 90 per cent of the population in the correctional facilities.

"The other ones are in the bars where they say that it is good, wines and spirits. Few come even to the house of the Lord," she said.

"They are full of wines and spirits not with the spirit of God."

Pastor Dorcas was speaking at ACK Bishop Kariuki Church in Kabete, Kiambu.

She regretted that boys and men have become regulars in drug dens, bars, prisons and hospital wards because of accidents caused by drunk driving.

"Even when there is parents day, you only find women, church meetings, women. And you have not asked yourselves what is eating what. How is it when you go to parent's day and the parents are women? When you call any gathering, it's women. You get them (men) in the dens they are drunk, and they are like zombies all of them," she said.

"The next place you are going to find them is prisons. I have been there, they are full there, 80 per cent, in fact, 90 per cent behind bars. Out of 61,000 inmates, about 58,000 are men. The potentials of this nation are behind bars and you ask yourself why the economy is doing badly, of course, that is one of the reasons." 

While quoting the Scriptures, Mark 4:35-5:20, Pastor Dorcas said the clergy needs to emulate Jesus and go over and above and rescue those possessed by drugs and alcoholism. 

"Jesus took a deliberate action of crossing the lake to go save a man who lived among the tombs, chained in his hands and feet, who had bruises and cuts everywhere," Pastor Dorcas said.

"Here in Kenya, as a nation, and the clergy, from across faiths, we must also, in deep faith and conviction, go over to the other side and rescue our boys in alcoholism and hard drugs."

Present during the service were Mt Kenya South Bishop Rt Rev Canon Charles Muturi, Kiambu deputy governor Rosemary Kirika, Kabete MP Githua Wamacukuru, Association of Pentecostal and Evangelical Clergy of Kenya members, MCAs, national administration officers and the clergy.

Later, Pastor Dorcas attended a medical camp at Kibichiku Secondary School grounds where she reached out to boys and men and urged them to embrace sobriety saying it's the beginning of healthy living.

He called on local leaders, and the community to reach out to those in alcohol, drug and substance abuse.

"The women in the area decried the high number of deaths of sons, brothers, and husbands from alcoholism," she said.