Recovering alcoholics and drug addicts in Kirinyaga have been given dairy goats, beehives and other farm inputs to start life afresh as they leave rehabilitation centres.
The donations from a local church are geared toward re-integrating the recovering addicts back to the society and empowering them economically.
Seed of Hope Family Church, which also has a rehabilitation centre at Difathas, hopes the programme will keep the beneficiaries busy and prevent them from going back to alcoholism and drug substance abuse.
One of the beneficiary Jeremiah Muriungi who has gone through an intensive rehabilitation said dairy goats will keep him engaged and also earn him money.
Murungi noted that idleness has led to many youths indulging in alcoholism, drug abuse and chewing of miraa due to lack of employment and that such programmes will play a great role in shaping the youth.
Dickson Mukundi another beneficiary said alcoholism had ruined his life completely but now he can engage in an income generating activity through dairy farming and bee keeping.
According to Seed of Hope Family Church Bishop John Mwangi, the programme will ensure that all people who have gone through rehabilitation will benefit from farming incentives so as they can improve their lives.
In February, National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA) organised various sensitisation forums in Kirinyaga after an illicit brew killed scores of people.
Led by NACADA Central Region manager Amos Warui, the agency held an open forum in Kirinyaga West Sub-County, Mwea Constituency, themed “Positive Parenting” targeting the residents since the incident affected different age groups, the youngest being 35 years and the oldest being over 70 years.
“Majority of those who passed on were parents and we have to remind them they have responsibilities and roles to play in the eradication of brews and drug substances,” Warui said.
The engagement with the public sought to find the best way to eradicate illicit brews and come up with best way NACADA could deal with the problem.