UoN leads in drug abuse  among Kenya universities – Weekly Citizen

A new study has exposed the extent of drug and substance abuse at public and private universities in Kenya.

The study carried out by consultants on behalf of a state agency says universities provides students with unfamiliar freedom from direct parental guidance and supervision and those unable to handle the independence resort to alcohol, drug and substance abuse.

The drugs mostly used by students include bhang, cocaine, heroin, Central Nervous System Depressants, inhalants, khat and marijuana.

The study found out that public and private universities located in rural areas are the least affected by the scourge of cocaine,heroine but bhang which has seen some of the students drop out.

The study established that drug peddlers are progressively devising ways of making it easier for students to access drugs.

They, for instance, provide their houses located near campuses as safe havens for students to use the drugs and receive orders and payments via their mobile phones.

The dealers know every nook and cranny of the campus neighbourhoods and have established good relationship with students and residents who watch out for the police and tip them off.

When caught, the peddlers easily bribe the police to secure their freedom.

The study established that peddlers find easy customers in students whose lives are in varying states of social influx – from naïve and impressionable freshmen who have newly broken free their parents control to frustrated seniors who have failed to secure internship opportunities, hence resorting to drug abuse due to frustrations.

The peddlers also identify students who serve as delivery boys to help them meet their growing demand. Those who peddle drugs are handsomely paid.

The study found out that some student leaders are bankrolled by drug barons to compete for leadership positions and in return they facilitate the barons to sell drugs to students.

Parties where drugs are abused are frequent at the beginning of every semester since there is little coursework assigned to students.

These parties invariably commence on Thursday night, that time when the tension of the study week gets eclipsed by a restive desire to get wild, and continue into the weekend.

The study found out that Saturday mornings there are reports of rape cases from campus students as a result of drug fueled Friday parties.

The study established that guards who frisk students are easily compromised by the drug dealing students.

1. University of Nairobi.

The study established that the University of Nairobi leads in drug abuse among higher institutions of learning, with at least 3 per cent of the student population having resorted to drug abuse.

The students easily get the drug from peddlers, some of whom are fellow students.

At UoN, the most abused drug is bhang, which is easily available in Nairobi. Some of the students from wealthy families use cocaine. The study established that most Saturday mornings there are reports of rape at Central Police Station due to drug abuse.

2. Kenyatta University

The study established that Kenyatta University comes second in drug abuse. The most abused drugs are bhang and cocaine.

The main source of the drug is the nearby slum, called Kilometre One.

3. Maseno University

The study established that at Maseno University, some students openly, even in their hostels, abuse drugs without fear.

Worryingly, bhang and a brew called Simba Waragi are smuggled into the country from neugbhouring Uganda through the Busia border, concealed as maize.

One of the main depots is Luanda market, which coincidentally has the largest number of mad men in the region.

Some peddlers sell the drugs by disguising themselves as mad people.

4. Kisii University

At Kisii University, the most abused drug is bhang which is readily available. Some students even use the weed, as is popularly called, openly, including in their hostels.

5. Moi University and University of Eldoret

The rate of drug abuse at Moi University was also found to be high. The most abused drug is bhang followed by cocaine.

6. Mount Kenya University

The study established that Mount Kenya University leads among private universities in drug abuse. The most abused drug was cocaine, since some of the students from well up families are able to buy.

7. Pwani University

At Pwani University, abuse of cocaine was found to be high. This is due to the presence of drug barons in the Coastal town of Mombasa. The drug barons easily use the students to establish market in the campus as well as to ferry the drugs to other members of the public. Cases of students injecting themselves with cocaine are numerous at Pwani University.

Other Universities where drug abuse is rampant include: (8). Jaramogi University (9) Technical University of Mombasa. (10) Technical University Nairobi. (11) Jomo Kenyatta University of Technology and Agriculture. (12) Egerton University. (13) Masinde Muliro University. (14). Maasai Mara University. (15). Dedan Kimathi University. (16). Rongo University (17). Machakos University.

According to the study, Catholic University of Eastern Africa, Daystar, Presbyterian and Nazarene University had the least number of cases of drug abuse. This was attributed to the Christian foundation of the institutions. Also, there were few cases of drug abuse at UMMA University due to the strong Muslim foundation which discourages the vice.