Kikuyu elders have voiced growing concern over the alarming rise in illicit alcohol and drug abuse across Central Kenya, warning that the trend is wreaking havoc on families and threatening the well-being of the region’s youth.
Speaking under the banners of the Kikuyu Council of Elders, Kiama Kiama, and Ndundu ya Athamaki, the leaders attributed a spike in substance abuse over the past year to the increased availability of illicit brews, which they say is fuelling a surge in broken homes, street children, and moral decay.
The elders made their remarks at Club Heritage Hotel in Naivasha at the conclusion of a three-day consultative meeting, days after the government launched a 100-day Rapid Response Initiative (RRI) to tackle the nationwide menace of illicit alcohol.
Ng’ang’a Nene, the Council’s National Secretary, described the current situation as dire, particularly in agriculturally rich areas where many unemployed youths have turned to drug and alcohol use.
“We are deeply concerned about the rise in addiction, especially among young people in Central Kenya,” said Nene. “The issue is contributing significantly to the collapse of marriages and the erosion of traditional family structures.”
Nene noted that the elders were ready to partner with both county and national governments to find sustainable solutions and help restore social order.
The gathering also served as a platform to address a long-delayed leadership transition within the Kikuyu cultural structure, which the elders said had been stalled for over 80 years. They argued that the absence of cultural guidance and mentorship has left many young people disconnected from their heritage.
“Our youth are in darkness when it comes to our traditions and values,” Nene said. “We are coming together as elders to provide leadership and preserve our cultural identity.”
Kigochi wa Waimeri, the Community Director of Culture, emphasized the non-political nature of the council, saying its primary goal is to restore cultural values and combat emerging societal threats.
He linked some of the issues facing the community — including moral decay and youth delinquency — to the delayed leadership transition and erosion of cultural norms
Dr. Nyamu Njoka, another senior elder, decried the infiltration of what he termed “foreign and ungodly practices,” including same-sex marriage and drug abuse, saying such influences are contrary to the community’s traditional values.
“We have unanimously agreed to safeguard our cultural heritage against practices that threaten to dismantle the moral fabric of our society,” said Dr. Njoka. “Unity among elders is key in guiding the next generation.”
The elders resolved to strengthen community engagement efforts and called for an inclusive cultural revival to address the growing social and moral challenges confronting the Kikuyu community and the country at large
